Who is Mary Cassatt?

close up -  Mother Wearing A Sunflower On Her Dress 

I had the pleasure of feasting my eyes on +30 Cassatt painting this summer while traveling in our Nation's Capital. The National Gallery of Art was featuring Degas and Cassatt show, which I found time to visit twice during my week long stay(insert: emoji smiley face and 20 thumbs up). Although I wasn't able to take picture of this exhibition, I did get numerous photos of Cassatt's work in other DC museums.

 Woman With Red Zinnia 

I've viewed a lot of figurative work, and was familiar with the name "Mary Cassatt," but had never seen many works. After viewing so many together this summer, I gained a whole new appreciation for her work. Woman and motherhood paintings, her theme of choice, evoke thoughtful introspection while her interesting brushwork, color choice, and patterns keep the viewers eye in circular captivation. I resonate with many of these themes as it reminds me of the closeness I feel for my mother. As a woman, I can also relate to the maternal and nurturing traits. In my own work, I have tried to portray some of the same emotions.

Woman In Pink Dress Picking Apples

During the late 1800's and early 1900's women of a certain class (educated and wealthy in this case) had to be careful with who and where they visited men. Maybe part of why Cassatt chose to paint so many woman, was out of convenience and propriety? This being said, she did spark a wonderful friendship with artist Edgar Degas. It is known that these two worked together closely in the arts, inspiring each other, with Cassatt as the mentored. They had successful group shows and historians have even discovered that Degas helped "correct" the background design in one of Cassatt's paintings. This in not surprising, since many teachers often help tweak areas of paintings during the learning process. Artists are visual and the best way to help them learn is to often show or demo a change.

Child In Straw Hat

If you are an art connoisseur I highly recommend The National Gallery of Art. The museum itself is just gorgeous! There are numerous galleries broken up into different shows and period work. After spending time looking you can take a break in their Roman peristyle garden. The museums are kept nice and cool, so its also a great escape from the heat if you visit in the summer. Entry is free.

Beautiful Roman Peristyle - internal gardens

Do you have a favorite museum or show that you've seen? Maybe you know some fun facts about Cassatt or want to share your Cassatt favorite? I'd love to hear your comments. Read more about the Degas and Cassatt in Art News. You can view my artwork at - www.vancannonart.com