Exhibition highlights Mary Cassatt's legacy

The Musée d'Orsay in Paris is hosting a major exhibition dedicated to Mary Cassatt, an American Impressionist painter, from October 6, 2026, to January 31, 2027. Titled Mary Cassatt, the Independent, the exhibition aims to explore her artistic contributions and her role as a feminist pioneer.

Early life and artistic training

Born in 1844 in Allegheny, now part of Pittsburgh, Cassatt spent her childhood traveling across Europe. She began her formal art training at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1860 and later studied in Paris under artists such as Jean-Léon Gérôme and Thomas Couture.

Artistic influences and move to Paris

Cassatt was influenced by artists like Manet, Courbet, and Degas, whose innovative approaches to art inspired her. Through Degas, she joined the Impressionist circle and exhibited alongside other prominent artists. After returning to the United States during the Franco-Prussian War, she moved back to Paris in 1874, where she settled permanently with her family.

Themes and artistic techniques

Cassatt’s work often depicted domestic and family scenes, especially motherhood, blending traditional techniques with modern themes. She was also a master of pastel and engraving, and her "Japanese-style" prints were inspired by an ukiyo-e exhibition she attended in Paris in 1890.

Cassatt as a patron and feminist

Cassatt was not only an artist but also a patron of the arts, owning the Château de Beaufresne where she supported other artists. Her feminist views are reflected in her portrayals of women as independent and active individuals, whether reading, playing music, or driving.

Legacy and the exhibition's purpose

Cassatt remained committed to women’s rights, participating in an exhibition in 1915 to support women’s suffrage. The Musée d'Orsay exhibition seeks to address the historical imbalance in her recognition, which has been stronger in the United States than in France, where she lived and created most of her life.