Artist Report

Personal life

Name of Artist: Mary Cassatt

Birth Date: May 23, 1844

Birth Place: Allegheny (modern day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

What later life events (marriage, children, deaths, etc.) had a major influence on the
artist?
Mary’s friendship with Edgar Degas significantly influenced her. He asked her to join a
group of artists, who later became known as the Impressionists. Mary was already
familiar with the work of Edgar Degas. Mary had said, “I used to go and flatten my nose
against that window and absorb all I could of his art; It changed my life. I saw art then as
I wanted to see it.” Mary is quoted as saying, “I accepted with joy. I hated conventional
art. I began to live.” He introduced her to pastel and engraving. She started carrying
around a sketchbook and recorded the scenes she saw. Shortly afterwards, Mary’s father,
who had opposed her career as an artist, accepted her skills and recognized her growing
success.

Time Period

Describe what prevailing style of art was popular when the artist first started?
Mary Cassatt started her work as an artist during the Modern Art movement. A small
group of French artists broke free of the traditional forms of painting and called
themselves the impressionists. Their paintings were of contemporary life.

What ‘new’ style did the artist start, or get involved in?
Impressionism and printmaking

What important historical events happened during the artist’s lifetime that
influenced one or more pieces?
Mary Cassatt was influenced by the Women’s Rights Movement and several of her pieces
show women in a new light. Mary is well known for her paintings of mothers and
children, but specific pieces showcase the advancements in women’s rights. Two of these
paintings are Reading "Le Figaro" and Lydia Reading the Morning Paper. These
paintings, of Mary’s mother and sister respectively, shows the importance of women’s
growing literacy. Another painting, A Woman and a Girl Driving, shows a woman
performing a physical task, which was unusual for its time. In 1915, she showed eighteen
works in an exhibition supporting women’s suffrage.
Select one piece that your artist did

Name of the piece: In the Loge (1878)

What is it about? It is about a well-dressed woman attending a theater performance in

Paris, France. She is watching the performance, while someone in the audience is
watching her.

Why did you choose this piece?

I like how this piece is relatable to me. Like the woman in the painting, I may not see
when someone is criticizing me, but I am aware it happens, and others can see it.

Name two elements of design that the artist used in this piece:
Psychological line and color

Name one principle of design that the artist used in this piece:
Scale
When you first looked at this piece what was your reaction to it?
It gave me a feeling of mysteriousness. All I noticed was a man was looking at the
woman instead of the performance, like everyone else.

Did your reaction change as you studied this piece?

My reaction changed because I realized this observation is from a third party. The
woman is seemingly unaware of the man looking up at her. This painting shows how
perceptive those around us usually are.

Sources

1. Mary Cassatt's Life and Legacy | Theartstory

https://www.theartstory.org/artist-cassatt-mary-life-and-legacy.htm

2. Mary Cassatt, 1844-1926: She Broke Social Barriers With Her Art
http://www.manythings.org/voa/people/Mary_Cassatt.html