Mary Cassatt — Woman with a Fan Print

About Mary Cassatt

American · 1844–1926

Mary Cassatt was born and educated in Pennsylvania and spent most of her artistic career in Paris. She began exhibiting at the Salon in 1868, then joined the independent Impressionist group. She was its only American participant. Her work drew on European painting and Japanese prints while retaining a distinctive interest in the lives, relationships and attention of women.

Cassatt’s paintings are celebrated for intimate scenes of everyday experience, but printmaking was equally important to her invention. Working alongside Degas encouraged experiments in etching and other techniques. She embraced the medium’s demanding practical work, developing innovative colour prints. The clarity of Japanese print design helped inform her use of pattern, contour and unexpected compositional spaces.