Marry Cassatt was an American painter and printmaker. While Cassatt was born in Pennsylvania she spent most of her adult life in France where she professionally studied under Jean-Léon Gérôm joined the Impressionist movement. Cassatt’s work was represented in Paris for the first time when her painting, The Mandolin Player, was accepted into the Paris Salon. Cassatt’s studies were interrupted in Paris due to the Franco-Prussian War and she fled back to Pennsylvania; later traveling to Italy to continue her studies. In her time in Italy Cassatt closely studied the works of Peter Paul Rubens and Velázquez However, in 1874 Cassatt returned to Paris and was invited by Edgar Degas to join an independent painting group known as the Impressionists. Cassatt was the only American officially part of the Impressionists. After joining the Impressionists, Edgar Degas became a mentor figure for her as he encouraged her to experiment with printmaking. Cassatt’s time with Degas’ mentorship influenced her work as she began to more heavily focus her work on depictions of scenes from contemporary life. While in France Cassatt sent many of her paintings to exhibitions in the United States. These paintings were one of the first introductions the American public had to Impressionist art— a crucial role in forming some of the most notable Impressionist collections within the United States.

Work Below, Respectively: Lilacs in a Window, 1879-1880| At the Theater, 1880| Elsie in a Blue Chair, 1880 | On a Balcony ,1878-79