Mary Stevenson Cassatt

American, 1844-1926

Mary Stevenson Cassatt was a French American artist known for her intimate portrayals of women and children and her role in advancing Impressionism. Born in Pennsylvania and trained in Philadelphia and Paris, Cassatt forged a career that bridged American and European art scenes at a time when few women did. 

Settling in Paris in the 1870s, Cassatt became closely associated with Edgar Degas and Édouard Manet, whose bold brushwork and modern subjects deeply influenced her. Encouraged by Degas, she joined the official Impressionist group and began exhibiting alongside its leading figures—making her one of only a few women accepted into the circle. 

Cassatt showed regularly at the Paris Salons and developed a distinctive visual language focused on domestic interiors, maternal themes, and the quiet strength of women. Her work combined precise draftsmanship with loose, expressive color, often applied in pastel or printmaking techniques. 

Her painting Sewing in the Conservatory, a refined example of her mature period, sold at Doyle in 2025 for $254,000, reflecting sustained interest in both her technical skill and cultural significance. Her work is held in major institutions worldwide and continues to resonate with collectors drawn to 19th-century modernism and the evolving role of women in visual culture.