Mary Cassatt

Hello! My name is Mary Cassatt. I was born on May 22nd, 1844, in a place called Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved to draw and paint more than anything. My family traveled a lot, and when we went to Europe, I got to see amazing museums filled with beautiful paintings. Seeing all that wonderful art made me dream of becoming an artist myself one day. It was a big dream, but it was the only thing I wanted to do.

When I grew up, I told my family I wanted to be a professional artist. Back then, that was a very unusual choice for a young woman, but I was determined! In 1866, I moved all the way to Paris, France, which was the center of the art world. The best art school there would not let women in, which was very disappointing. But I didn't give up. I found other ways to learn and spent my days at the famous Louvre museum, carefully copying the masterpieces to teach myself how to paint like the great artists.

In Paris, I met a group of artists who were doing something totally new and exciting. They were called the Impressionists. My friend, the artist Edgar Degas, saw my work and invited me to join them. I was so thrilled! Starting in 1879, I showed my paintings in their exhibitions. We didn't want to paint perfect, posed pictures. We wanted to capture quick moments from everyday life, using bright colors and brushstrokes you could actually see on the canvas.

My favorite thing to paint was the special, quiet moments between mothers and their children. I loved showing a mother brushing her daughter's hair, or a baby cuddling in his mother's arms. I wanted my paintings to feel cozy, loving, and real. One of my famous paintings, called 'The Child's Bath' from 1893, shows a mother gently washing her little one's feet. It’s these sweet, everyday scenes that I loved to share with the world.

I painted for many, many years, but as I got older, my eyesight started to fade, which made it very difficult to work. I lived to be 82 years old, passing away in 1926. Today, people remember me as one of the most important Impressionist painters and the only American who officially joined the group in Paris. I hope my paintings remind everyone of the beauty and love found in the simple moments of daily life.