Almost unknown in Europe, American impressionist artist Mary Cassatt was one of the world’s most influential artists in promoting the early Impressionist School of the late nineteenth century.
Born in 1844, Mary came from a wealthy family, and after spending her early days in Paris, she went against the trend of the days in wishing to study art and to paint. She attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and after graduating, returned to Paris in 1866, where she eventually befriended Edgar Degas, who began to have a big effect on her formerly traditional painting style.
Through Degas, she got involved with early impressionists Monet, Renoir and Pissarro, all of whom had an influence on her burgeoning style, changing it to more portraiture and lighter colours.
Never having her own children, Cassatt specialised in painting children, showing a deep sensitivity and love of her subjects through her art.
In 1892, she stormed onto the art scene after being commissioned to do a mural at the World’s Fair in Chicago for the Woman’s Building. She went on to experiment with the making of prints, eventually developing an intaglio procedure that combined drypoint and aquatint, of which here 1890-91 series, The Ten, is considered a milestone in print making by an Impressionist.
But her influence on Impressionism was just as an artist … her family’s wealth allowed her to support friends by buying their works when they were broke, as well as convincing her rich friends to support these struggling artists.
This outspoken artist passed away at age 82 in 1926.
