Mary Cassatt Paintings – Caught the Impressionists Attention!
Mary Cassatt paintings were highly regarded during her lifetime. She is considered as one of the greatest American female painters. Cassatt lived in Paris for more than sixty years. She was the only American painter to belong to the Impressionism art movement.
Why is she less known than her male counterparts?
Mary Cassatt was born in the United States. She rebelled against all expectations set for her as a woman in the 19th century both in America and in France.
Cassatt Leaves America for Paris
Despite her parents’ objections, Cassatt studyied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia at the age 15.
However, she felt frustrated with the patronizing attitudes of the male students and teachers towards her.
The art academy even banned her from participating in drawing lessons with live models. Being a female, she was only permitted to draw inanimate objects.
Fed up, Cassatt left America and travelled to liberal-minded Paris together with her mother. She started studying privately with the masters from the Ecole des Beaux Arts.
About Paris Cassat says: “women did not have to fight for recognition if they did serious work.”
When Cassatt permanently moved to Paris in 1874, (at the age of 30) she found conventional art boring.
Cassatt Joins the Impressionists
Degas noticed Mary Cassatt’s paintings and greatly admired them. The two became firm friends. He invited her to exhibit her paintings together with the other impressionists.
“I had already recognized who were my true masters. I admired Manet, Courbet and Degas. I hated conventional art – I began to live.” Quote Cassatt
Mary Cassatt began a long period of participation in the Impressionism art movement together with Monet, Degas, Renoir and others. She also became a leading figure in the impressionist circle. Her peers and critics highly praised her paintings..
Degas and Cassatt’s Relationship
During this period Cassatt and Degas became very close friends and they began a long period of artistic collaboration. Neither Cassatt or Degas ever married. There is speculation that perhaps they were also romantically involved.
Degas and Cassatt had neighbouring art studio’s in Montmartre and frequently worked side by side, encouraging and advising each other.
She also socialized with other fellow artists in this circle. Camille Pissarro, for example, was an older member of the group and Cassatt’s mentor.
Cassatt was instrumental in introducing impressionism to the American network of patrons through her family connections and personal friendships.
Ukiyo-e Japanese Woodblock Prints & Mary Cassatt Paintings
Around the 1850s, the Western world were gaining access to the Eastern “Oriental” philosophies, culture & arts. In particular, the ukiyo-e Japanese woodblock prints became extremely popular.
The Japanese woodblock prints were also admired by the impressionists and they collected these prints and studied them. Many even adopted ukiyo-e elements into their own paintings.
After Cassatt saw an exhibition of Japanese woodcuts in Paris, she decided to create a series of prints herself. She adapted the ukiyo-e art form and introduced everyday scenes of French women, for example, a woman caring for a child, trying on a dress or just sealing an envelope.
So why is Cassatt less famous than her male counterparts?
Firstly, Mary Cassatt was a woman! As a woman in those times, she felt dismissed and patronized as an artist.
Degas sarcastically says after viewing one of her incredible paintings: “I don’t believe a woman could draw that well. Did you really do this?”
Secondly, Mary Cassatt was an American painter who painted in a French impressionist style. Curators were always unsure whether to hang her in the American or European sections, leaving her work in limbo.
Thirdly, Mary Cassatt’s paintings were frequently ignored by critics who couldn’t see beyond her ‘feminine’ subject matter.
Fourthly, art historians would later dismiss her as a ‘secondary’ figure in the impressionism art movement. This couldn’t be further from the truth!!!
You can view Mary Cassatt’s paintings in many prestigious museums all over the world.
In Paris you can find her paintings in the highly acclaimed Musée d’Orsay and the Petit Palais together with all the other esteemed Impressionists.
If you love reading historical fiction, I highly recommend “I Always Loved You” by Oliveira. This historical fiction book focuses on the relationship of Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas. Press here for my review.
Read About The Female Impressionists Forgotten By the Art Historians
March 4, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Thank you for this article. I truly admire the paintings and drawings from Mary Cassatt and the other female impressionist artists
March 4, 2019 at 4:24 pm
Hi Jenny. I agree. These women were fighting a double battle. Painting in a new style that was scorned at the time and also for being undervalued as artists because they were women.
March 4, 2019 at 6:15 pm
Thank you, thought provoking. Why do women have to be judged by men’s work. It still goes on. We are simply different, and as such, interested in different subject matter.
March 4, 2019 at 8:11 pm
Absolutely Vanessa. I think it easier for female artists today in the Western world but still along way to go until woman are judged equally. I am glad you enjoyed this post. I enjoyed writing it. The themes are important and these female painters need to be acknowledged.
March 27, 2019 at 2:19 am
I had a similar problem in the 1970s as a woman wildlife and sporting artist. One prospective client was admiring a large painting of a bull moose I had done, and asked my mother (who was standing near it) if her husband had done it. “No, my daughter painted it.” The man turned in disgust to his friends “She says a GIRL painted this…” Years later, I began to finally become recognized and had a one-woman show of my sporting art at the NRA Museum in Washington DC and my nature work at the National Wildlife Federation Gallery. The men who bought my work began to accept me, and invite me to hunt with their groups. And I am so glad for Wildlife Art Shows which accepted me early on. The “arty” groups never really liked my realistic style, my rather raw interpretation of the realities of nature (one show made me take down a painting of a moose being attacked by wolves)–and hated the fact that I sold enough to make a good living without their approval or grants. When I lived in Alaska, I knew my art was realistic when the Native people began to buy it, or trade their smoked salmon and berry jelly for it. I empathize with Mary Cassatt and many other female artists and writers. It is a struggle but be true to the gift God gives you…
March 27, 2019 at 4:44 pm
Thanks for sharing your story.