Learn about Mary Cassatt in Art History, View Her Art and Famous Paintings

"The Cup of Tea”, Cassatt, 1879


Mary Cassatt, 1845-1927, one of Americas’ famous artists of Impressionism in art history, was independently wealthy, and did much to promote some of the now famous impressionistic paintings in the United States. This at a time when Impressionism still wasn't fully accepted in Europe.

The modern art Impressionists, toward the end of the 1880’s were painting an impression of Nature and the world, an immediacy of the moment, and a visual recording of atmospheric and sunlight effects.

Although Mary Cassatt exhibited on a regular basis with the Impressionists her art style was more solid in form than other painters of this period. Light and color did not dissolve her art forms and objects as it did with Monet.

She studied art and painting in Paris, and was influenced by the art of Degas. This is particularly evident in her famous painting "The Bath", painted in 1892. The composition has shallow depth, simplified forms and an oblique point of view, a characteristic close and personal view painted many times by Degas.

Restricted by her gender, Mary Cassatt could not easily gain admittance to the cafes as many of her male counterparts, which may have been responsible for her subject matter being mostly of women, mothers, and their relationships with their children.

As a wealthy woman, she did much to promote art Impressionism among her wealthy circle of friends. She was a privileged cultivated woman and a surprise to many in the art world when she associated her artwork with the so-called scandalous Impressionists. Other artists during the Impressionist period in art history are Edgar Degas and Aguste Renoir.
The composition has shallow depth, simplified forms and an oblique point of view, a characteristic close and personal view painted many times by Degas.

Restricted by her gender, Mary Cassatt could not easily gain admittance to the cafes as many of her male counterparts, which may have been responsible for her subject matter being mostly of women, mothers, and their relationships with their children.

As a wealthy woman, she did much to promote art Impressionism among her wealthy circle of friends. She was a privileged cultivated woman and a surprise to many in the art world when she associated her artwork with the so-called scandalous Impressionists.
To view gallery 1, Mary Cassatt posters, click here:

To view gallery 2, Cassatt paintings, click here.


Click on the graphics below to increase graphic sizes. At the same you time can also view an opportunity to purchase a poster or painting reproduction.














To view selected posters, click on the icons below: