Mary Cassatt
On this day in 1844, Mary Cassatt, an American painter and printmaker who lived much of her adult life in France (where she befriended Edgar Degas and exhibited with the Impressionists), was born!
Around 1890, Cassatt became obsessed with Japanese woodcuts; she initiated a project of her own color prints that reflected her detailed exploration of Japanese printing techniques. One of these works, Woman Bathing, melds an everyday scene with vibrant formal elements—such as color, layout, pattern, and shape—drawing inspiration from the stylistic decisions found in the creations of Japanese artists like Utagawa Hiroshige. The artwork features a woman leaning over a basin with a mirror partially capturing her reflection. Cassatt weaves together multiple patterns: the green and pink stripes of the woman's robe, the yellow and brown leaf patterns against the blue rug, and similar motifs on the pitcher. These, combined with the blue-green hue of the wall and the graceful arc of the woman's bare back, breathe life into this serene scene, introducing a subtly unconventional perspective.
P.S. On the occasion of Mary Cassatt's birthday, we're giving you a -30% discount on our best-selling online course, French Impressionism Mega Course, where you can learn more about this amazing artist as well as other Impressionists. :)
P.P.S. Did you know Mary Cassatt also created monumental art as well? Read the story of Cassatt's feminist mural that went missing!