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Mary Cassatt Facts & Worksheets

Mary Cassatt was an American painter known for her significant contributions to the Impressionist movement. Cassatt's work primarily focused on the portrayal of everyday life, particularly the lives of women and children.

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Mary Cassatt was an American painter known for her significant contributions to the Impressionist movement.

See the fact file below for more information about Mary Cassatt, or you can download our 22-page Mary Cassatt worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

  • She was born on May 22, 1844, in Allegheny City (now part of Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania, and she died on June 14, 1926, in Château de Beaufresne, near Paris, France. 
  • Cassatt’s work primarily focused on the portrayal of everyday life, particularly the lives of women and children. 
  • Family Background: Mary Cassatt was born into a well-to-do family. Her father was a successful businessman, and her mother came from a banking family. They valued education and culture.
  • Artistic Pursuits: Mary showed an early interest in art and began drawing at a young age. Her family’s travels in Europe exposed her to European art and culture, influencing her artistic development.
  • Education in Europe: In 1866, Mary Cassatt moved to Paris to study art, as women in the United States faced limited opportunities for formal artistic training. She enrolled in various art academies and studios and received guidance from established artists.

IMPRESSIONISM AND CAREER

  • Mary Cassatt’s career as an Impressionist artist was marked by her significant contributions to the movement and her distinctive approach to painting. Here’s a more detailed look at her Impressionist style and her career:
  • Exposure to Impressionism: During her time in Paris in the late 19th century, Mary Cassatt was exposed to the works of prominent French Impressionist painters like Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, and Claude Monet. Degas, with whom she formed a close friendship, particularly influenced her.
  • Joining the Impressionist Circle: Cassatt became the only American artist to exhibit her work with the Impressionists in Paris. Her association with this group of artists helped shape her style and brought her recognition as a notable Impressionist painter.
  • Interest in Light and Color: Like other Impressionists, Cassatt was fascinated by the effects of light and color on the perception of a scene. She embraced vibrant colors and broken brushwork to capture the transient qualities of light in her paintings.
  • En Plein Air: Cassatt often painted “en plein air,” or outdoors, to observe the changing natural light. This technique allowed her to create works that portrayed the atmosphere and mood of a particular moment.
  • Capturing Everyday Life: Cassatt’s subjects predominantly revolved around scenes of everyday life, particularly those featuring women and children. Her works often depicted domestic settings, gardens, and social gatherings.
  • Intimate Moments: She had a keen ability to capture the personal moments of her subjects, whether it was a mother caring for her child, women engaged in leisure activities, or people in theaters.
  • Japanese Influence: Cassatt was also influenced by the Japanese woodblock prints in vogue during the late 19th century in Europe. She incorporated elements of Japanese design and composition into her work.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Breakthrough Exhibition: In 1879, Mary Cassatt exhibited her work with the Impressionists for the first time at the Fourth Impressionist Exhibition in Paris.
  • Her paintings garnered attention and acclaim, and her career gained momentum.
  • Subject Matter: Cassatt’s focus on the lives of women and children was groundbreaking. Her depictions of motherhood, children’s innocence, and the bonds between mothers and their offspring resonated with viewers.
  • Financial Independence: Over time, Cassatt’s success as an artist allowed her to achieve financial independence, a notable achievement for a female artist in the late 19th century.
  • Influence and Mentorship: Beyond her own work, Cassatt was instrumental in introducing Impressionism to American audiences. She played a key role in promoting the art of her fellow Impressionists in the United States and helped build their collections.
  • Friendship with Degas: Cassatt’s work came to be associated with the Impressionist movement, and she became close friends with Edgar Degas, one of the leading Impressionist painters. 
  • He invited her to exhibit with the Impressionists; she was the only American to do so.

CONTRIBUTIONS AND LEGACY

  • Mary Cassatt’s legacy is multifaceted and enduring, as she made significant contributions to the world of art, particularly in the realm of Impressionism, and also played a role in the advancement of women in the arts. 

Pioneering Impressionist Art in America:

  • Mary Cassatt introduced the Impressionist style to American audiences, becoming one of the movement’s most influential proponents in the United States.
  • Her association with the French Impressionists and her participation in their exhibitions helped promote Impressionism as a significant artistic movement.

Celebration of Motherhood and Family Life:

  • Cassatt’s paintings often depicted scenes of domestic life, particularly those involving mothers and children. 
  • Her portrayal of the tender and intimate moments between mothers and their offspring remains a hallmark of her work.
  • Her ability to capture the essence of these relationships resonates with viewers and continues to be celebrated for its emotional depth.

Breaking Gender Barriers:

  • As a female artist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Mary Cassatt faced significant gender-based obstacles. However, she persevered and achieved recognition in a male-dominated art world.
  • Her success paved the way for future generations of women artists, encouraging them to pursue their artistic aspirations.

Artistic Innovation:

  • Cassatt’s use of vibrant colors, loose brushwork, and her ability to capture the effects of light and atmosphere in her paintings were innovative for her time. 
  • Her work contributed to the evolution of art and influenced subsequent generations of artists.
  • Educational Contributions:
  • Cassatt’s experiences as a female artist in a male-dominated field and her commitment to supporting other women artists led her to advocate for women’s art education.
  • She played a role in establishing the Women’s Art Committee at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, which promoted women’s art education and recognition.

Enduring Influence:

  • Mary Cassatt’s art continues to inspire and resonate with contemporary audiences. Her ability to capture the beauty and authenticity of everyday life has a timeless quality.
  • Many artists and scholars continue to study and appreciate her work, and her paintings feature in major art collections and museums worldwide.

Cultural Recognition:

  • Mary Cassatt’s contributions to art and legacy have been celebrated through exhibitions, publications, and retrospectives dedicated to her life and work.
  • Her status as a groundbreaking artist and advocate for women in the arts is acknowledged and honored.
  • Mary Cassatt’s legacy extends beyond her remarkable paintings; it encompasses her role as a trailblazer for women in the arts, her influence on the Impressionist movement, and her enduring impact on the art world.

Mary Cassatt Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Mary Cassatt across 22 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Mary Cassatt. Mary Cassatt was an American painter known for her significant contributions to the Impressionist movement.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Mary Cassatt Facts
  2. Mary’s Life
  3. Painting Appreciation
  4. Visual Storytelling
  5. Japonisme
  6. Mary’s Subjects
  7. Drawing My Interests
  8. En Plein Air
  9. The Art of Joy
  10. Local Impressionist
  11. Similar Impressions

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Mary Cassatt?

Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was an American painter and printmaker known for her significant contributions to the Impressionist movement. She is particularly famous for her depictions of mothers and children in domestic scenes.

Where was Mary Cassatt born and raised?

Mary Cassatt was born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, which is now part of Pittsburgh, on May 22, 1844. She spent her early years there and later moved to Europe, where she developed her artistic career.

How did Mary Cassatt become involved with the Impressionist movement?

Mary Cassatt moved to Paris in the 1860s to further her artistic studies. She became friends with prominent Impressionist artists like Edgar Degas and exhibited her work with the Impressionists, eventually becoming the only American to exhibit with them regularly. She adopted their style, characterized by capturing everyday scenes and the effects of light.

What is Mary Cassatt’s most famous artwork?

One of Mary Cassatt’s most famous works is “The Child’s Bath” (1893), which portrays a mother bathing her child. This painting is emblematic of her focus on maternal and family life, and it’s often considered a masterpiece of Impressionist art.

What is Mary Cassatt’s legacy in the art world?

Mary Cassatt is celebrated for her pioneering role in introducing Impressionism to the United States and for her distinctive portrayal of the mother-child relationship. Her legacy includes a significant body of work that continues to be admired for its emotional depth and artistic innovation. She paved the way for greater recognition of female artists in the art world and remains an important figure in art history.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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