Mary Cassat (American woman-painter)

Mary Cassat (1844 - 1926) was the most distinguished woman painter of America. She spent most of her life in France. She was selftaught. She joined the impressionist group at the invitation of Degas, who became her lifelong friend. Although there was something of Manet and Renoir in her works, she imitated none of them and developed her own style, which shows a strong influence of Japanese print. Her individual style had a freshness and directness free from affection. Her favourite subject was womanhood. Almost all her wors were devoted to the woman-and-child theme. Her treatment of it was characterized by a certain tenderness, yet it was objective and original and free from sentimentality.