Mary Cassatt, The Forgotten artist

Mary Cassatt was a hugely successful artist who depicted women and children in tender and touching moments. Apart from all her success; she seems to get over looked for her male counterparts of the day Like Renoir and Manet; and her work is somewhat forgotten in comparison to other artists of the day.

Mary Cassatt was born in Pittsburgh but lived in France ; she was  one of the first American impressionist painters and she was deeply influenced by the artist Edgar Degas.

As a female artist in a male dominated world of art ; she paved a way for women to make a career in art ;and made the impossible seem possible ; and her work was exceptional ; it has a light and beauty that she captured so effortlessly.

Cassatt was impressed by the French arts when she got the opportunity to visit various parts of Europe and spend a large amount of time  in the cultural capital of Europe, i. e France. She befriended many talented contemporary artists in France at that time. Edgar Degas is one of her famous artist friends.

Cassatt's appeal lies in her choice of highly unusual subjects. This is one of the factors behind establishing her as a rare example of a successful female artist at that time. She has depicted the various stages in the life of a woman in her paintings. And she also looked into these from the point of view of a woman. The eternal bond of a mother with her child was also featured again and again in Mary’s paintings.

Cassatt's success as an artist helped her became a representative of the contemporary campaigns regarding women’s issues. She has even received the French Legion d'honneur in the year 1904 for her exceptional services to art. This award is the highest civilian award given by the French government. She needed a much longer time to be accepted in her own country America. But she was accepted as an artist with exceptional quality.

Her work is now exhibited in each and every part of America, especially Philadelphia and Boston area's. And I believe it's work worth seeing if you get the opportunity.

Mary Cassatt proved that if you have talent and have got an opportunity to exhibit your talent,success will come sooner or later. She has flourished against all the odds in the primitive society of the late 19th century.

It was not easy for her as a female artist, but she successfully proved her worth. She paved the way for the female artists of the next generation. Due to her contribution as an artist she has gained a special place in the history of American fine arts as well as in the history of female empowerment. Even today her paintings enjoy a lot of accolades from critics and fans all over the world. No wonder that her paintings have sold for a sum as large as $2.9 million in art auctions.

• I have touched with a sense of art some people – they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to that joy for an artist?

Mary’ Cassatt.