Mary Cassatt was born in Pittsburg Pennsylvania in 1844. She was born into a wealthy family which allowed her to travel to Europe and study art. Her first encounter with an art exhibition was in Paris in 1855. She returned home from her time in Paris with great aspirations to have a career as an artist. This idea was challenged at two major levels. First, her father did not approve of the career. He felt she would not be able to support herself. Secondly, male artists monopolized the art world and were not keen on allowing women into it. Mary ignored both barriers and began art study at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Pittsburg. However, she soon grew dissatisfied with the restrictions on female students . For instance, only men were allowed to draw from models. Women had to draw from ceramic busts. So she set off for Paris in 1866 to live and study art. The move was bold. She exhibited her first work in the Paris salon in 1868. It was titled "Mandoline Player." She continued to paint and exhibit but was frustrated by the fact that female artists were often rejected to exhibit their work unless recommended by a male artist. She vocalized her contempt at the politics of the Paris salon. "She is entirely too slashing...." wrote Sartain, the salon commentator, " and disdains the names of artists we revere" Her open opinions cost her dearly as both of her paintings were rejected in the 1877 Paris Salon. It was at this point that Edgar Degas invited Mary to show with the Impressionist painters. The impressionists work changed Mary's life. She "saw art as she wanted to see it." Mary took on the cause of the impressionists and journaled "we are taking on a despairing fight". Her work focused on the roles of women in society. One might view her work , with paintings of mother's and children, as a form of adoration for the mother role. However, Mary was known as a feminist, who worked hard to free herself from traditional roles forced on women by society. The artist also refused such roles for herself. She never married or had children. Her paintings were to cause the public to stop and notice how humble the roles for women were at that time One could bathe the children, sew, pick flowers, etc. . Mary was a pioneer. She remained a successful artist in a society where women artists were not welcome. One of the most influential works of Cassatt was the 1891 exposition mural of "Modern Woman" . It was commissioned by a Chicago business woman to depict women in modern roles. The mural was a triptych in which the center image was women picking fruit off of the tree of knowledge. It was show that women should have access to higher education as well as men. The idea of women attending college to obtain a career outside the home was revolutionary at that time. Mary continued to support women's rights in the latter part of her life. She was a part of Women's Suffrage and in 1915 showed 18 works in support of it. Her art work, and her political work highlighted women's roles in society and the need for change.
