Mary Cassatt: America's Female Impressionist

Historically art has been dominated by men who often overshadow the few women there are. In the 18th and 19th century it became more common for women to create art but there were rules: Women could not paint historical scenes, could only paint women and children, still lives, never nudes. They were limited to daily life, still lives, landscapes, and plaster casts of humans, When women tried to break these rules they were usually erased from history or forced to conform. But in the 1850s Mary Cassatt found a group of men who were challenging rules and breaking them. Joining the Impressionists Mary was able to make a name for herself in art history as an impressionist. Through a combination of lecture and discussion, students will learn about Impressionism, Mary Cassatt, and her roll in the creation of the movement and its spread around the world. We'll talk about the Mystery Mural from the 1893 Worlds Fair and other works she created as well as how she never stopped encouraging and pushing forward for the inclusion of women and this new movement.