Mary Cassatt at Work: - Jennifer A. Thompson: Hardcover

by Jennifer A. Thompson and Laurel Garber

Contributions by Dave Beech, Kathleen A. Foster, Nicole Georgopulos, Erica E Hirshler, Teresa Lignelli and Thomas Primeau

Mary Cassatt’s (1844–1926) sensitive depictions of the social, intellectual, and professional lives of modern women often emphasize the work involved in the undervalued sphere of feminized activity.

From her renowned portrayals of women and children that foreground the labor of caregiving—whether performed by hired help or mothers—to her images of embroidering, theatergoing, and reading, her female subjects are actively engaged, and often engrossed, in what they are doing. 

Highlighting Cassatt’s attention to women’s roles in the making of modern life, this study connects her recurring subjects and rigorous techniques to her own understanding of her status as a professional artist. Rather than inspiration, genius, or sentiment, it was intense effort that Cassatt most identified with in her processes of pastel drawing, intaglio printmaking, and oil painting, which resulted in an ever-evolving style that left the labors of art-making visible.

Hardcover / 304 Pages / 8.50 x 11.30 in, / 240 color illus.