Illustration by Maria Manhattan
Mary Cassatt was born in Allegheny City (now part of Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania on May 22, 1844. She spent her childhood in Pennsylvania, and spent most of her life in Europe, studying in several cities including Paris. In spite of restrictions placed on women in the 1860s in the art field, Mary was determined to be an artist. Degas admired her paintings and asked her to exhibit with other impressionists. She created a radiant style of her own, leaving impressionism to experiment with perspectives, light and color. Mary Cassatt loved children and is best known for her tender portrayals of mother and child.
