Book Description
Presents a biography of Mary Cassatt ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

What a Wonderful Book for Children
Mary Cassatt was a true master when painting mothers and their children.Mike Venezia's book captures her life and work beautifully.This series on artists is so educational, I have bought the entire series for my brother's children.I first saw them in the gift shop of the Virginia Museum and have enjoyed them ever since.

Cassatt's paint'g leaves the young with a warm tummy feeling
"... she seemed to understand the love between mothers and their babies better than any other artist", p. 26.

The young reader will learn about Cassatt's early years in Pennsylvania, her family moving to Francefor two years when she was 7, her years at the Pennsylvania Academy of FineArts, and her moving to France at the age of 22 to learn more about art.

Cassatt's paintings have a current day presence to them.Regardless ofhow far we as a society progress, most children will be lovingly cared forby their parents.She captured the mothers and fathers in a relaxed statewith their children going about their every day activities.Children willreadily relate to the paintings given their own very recent experiences. The young are very sensitive to feelings.The warmth expressed in thepaintings will easily be absorbed by their delicate nature. They willcome away from the book with a warm tummy feeling.

My favorite paintingin the book is Cassatt's "Little Girl in a Blue Armchair,"painted in 1878.It remains contemporary.It could be any one of mynieces or even myself.When I was young, my mother used to make me dressup for family functions to which I agreed if I could bring my play clotheswith me.This picture reminds me of what I must have looked like until Icould change into my play clothes.

Venezia's illustrations are humorous. His narrative is delightfully entertaining.His approach brings theartist within reach of the young.His re-enactment of why Mary joined theimpressionist group pokes fun at the upheaval they caused.

The size ofthe book is perfect for smaller hands.It enables the young to have artwithin their grasp.Venezia gives the locations of the paintings and asresult if the child lives near one of the museums or will be near one onvacation, she/he would be able to see the original.

This is the 6th inVenezia's "Getting to know the World's Greatest Artist" series.He also has a similar series on composers.Venezia's back coverillustration ties back to the subject."Working on Mary Cassattinspired Mike to paint his own family's portraits, capturing...".

The price of the book is well worth paying.The book contains thefollowing:Cassatt's paintings (17) and print (1),Venezia'sillustrations - 7, Others' paintings - 4. ... Read more

Book Description
One of the few women Impressionists, Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) had a life of paradoxes: American born, she lived and worked in France; a classically trained artist, she preferred the company of radicals; never married, she painted exquisite and beloved portraits of mothers and children. This book provides new insight into the personal life and artistic endeavors of this extraordinary woman. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Getting to know Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt is a true American treasure. This is an enjoyable, and thoroughly researched biography about her. It is not only well-written, but it is full of wonderful and historic photos of Mary, her paintings, her friends, and her family throughout her life.

The Essential Cassatt Resource
Despite Mary Cassatt's continuing resurgence in popularity as an artist since the 1970s, prior to this volume her biographers had missed the boat.As a result, most people who admire Ms. Cassatt's wonderful paintings are filled with inaccurate beliefs about her life and the condition of women artists during her life.If you care enough about her work to want to correct those mistaken beliefs, please do read this volume.You'll also learn even more if you follow that reading by also looking at Cassatt:A Retrospective by the same author, Nancy Mowll Mathews.

Mary Cassatt is an elusive subject for several reasons.She didn't write many letters, often didn't care what others thought of her and wasn't written about by others nearly as often as she deserved.In addition, her role as an iconic woman pioneer in the Impressionist movement has caused many to "interpret" her life to explain other agendas.

The reality is much more interesting than the misinformation.At a young age, she was exposed to the leading cultural events in Europe . . . a rarity for any American.Her mother was probably one of the most intelligent and capable women of her generation anywhere.The family moved around constantly in rented homes to stay close to the various children and business opportunities.Only after her father's death was Ms. Cassatt able to purchase and enjoy a home.Contrary to popular belief today, it wasn't at all unusual for women to pursue painting careers.In fact, the Louvre was full of American women painting copies of the masterpieces there.What was unusual was for a woman to be viewed as the peer of the best male artists.Ms. Cassatt clearly reached that pinnacle during her Impressionist years and beyond.Much to her own disgust, she let herself be led into painting the mother and child paintings that we all love so much by the marketing plans of her gallery . . . rather than her own passion. Although profitable, this path was in her view a diversion from her better work.Paradoxically, Ms. Cassatt's two bothers were even more famous in their day than she was . . . even though we have barely heard of them today.Her older brother was, in fact, one of the most important railroad developers in the eastern United States.As head of the Pennsylvania Railroad, he directed the development of the railroad tunnel into Manhattan.

Ms. Mathews does a nice job of balancing what is known from what is not . . . while pointing out what the possibilities were.As a result of this biography, I felt I knew the real Mary Cassatt for the first time.

Bravo, Ms. Mathews!

Thorough, well researched study of the artist Mary Cassatt.
Ms. Mathews presents Mary Cassatt's entire life and incorporates little known details about her travels and associations with friends and family.She mixes facts, anecdotes and reflections on society in such an easily readable way that even her suppositions could be viewed as gospel truth.The (hardcover) book is well illustrated with historical photographs and black and white illustrations of Cassatt's and her contemporaries' work.The author makes numerous points regarding what motivated and inspired the artist at different periods in her life.She gives very specific illustrations of how difficult life could be for a woman of Cassatt's time.Additionally, the author admits Mary Cassatt's opinions and outspokenness often got her in trouble with friends.Those friendships she was able to maintain were based on a mutual, professional respect. Included is a chapter about the artist's work in an historical context.Her work was viewed differently by critics, and herself, at different times.Nancy Mowell Mathews book gives so much life to the artist's character, I wouldn't be surprised if it's made into a movie!It is certainly motivation for any working woman.

Getting to Know Mary in All Her Intricacies
Nancy Mathews gets to the point... her book is wonderfully researched and weaves through the intricately woven fabric of Cassatt's life; yet she doesn't bog you down with too many details.I enjoyed every page of this book and felt like I got an honest portrayal of the woman, her art and the reasons behind the decisions she made.I especially thank Nancy for her sympathetic yet analytical overview of the many misunderstandings that have been perpetuated year after year about Cassatt and other women artists in the late 19th/early 20th century.I'm glad to know the truth.

This biography left me in awe of Mary Cassatt who was obviously a focused, smart and privileged person at a time when many male artists were barely making ends meet.She was unafraid of the establishment, outspoken and determined, not to mention a smart businesswoman.The only thing I disagree with is when the author states that at 51 Mary Cassatt "was faced with an unusually hard burden of loneliness."Mary Cassatt was blessed with many friends, family and admirers and moved in a great many social circles all her life.She rarely veered from her chosen path.But the greatest lesson we can learn from Ms. Cassatt is to stay focused on our life purpose and to honour our own lives with the best we can give of ourselves.

A MUST READ for all interested in art during the late 1800
I highly recommend as a MUST READ this book Mary Cassatt: A Life. by Nancy Mowll Mathews. The book is a fascinating not only of the life of Mary Cassatt but for the insights on the art circles, family life and historical context of these artists and the times in which they lived. Mary Cassatt was a mover and shaker of her times, with good social skills and a mind for business.You travel with her life and times as if you were present. From my perspective I am so happy that I happened on this book because it puts alot of bits and pieces together on these artists.

Deborah Chapin ... Read more

Book Description
Mary Cassatt is most famous for her paintings of mothers and babies, and that's what first attracts "Claire" because she has a new baby sister. But through research for her class report Claire learns many surprising facts about Mary: she was an American who lived in France nearly all her life, she never married or had children herself, and she became a professional artist at a time when respectable ladies simply did not do that! With beautiful reproductions of Mary Cassatt's best-loved paintings as well as lively childlike pictures that illustrate her life, this Smart About Art book gives children a wonderful "portrait" of a great artist and fascinating woman.

Illustrated by Jennifer Kalis. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Terrific Children's Book about Mary Cassatt!
This is a wonderful book about Mary Cassatt.It is done from the perspective of a child who admires Mary Cassatt paintings and is in the process of learning more about her.She even copies some of her paintings in photography and drawings.Very sweet and helpful in motivating a child about painting or learning more about painters.They no longer have to fear being a nerd, learning about painting is cool!

Charming introduction to Mary Cassatt
I thought this book was really charming and that its combination of prints by Mary Cassatt and the line drawings of the child who is telling the story made this very appealing to me. But I am an adult and don't know how a child would react to this. Perhaps I can field test it on a great-niece. ... Read more

Book Description
This inspirational life story of Mary Cassatt for young readers tells how, as a child in Pennsylvania, she dreamed of being a famous painter. But the year was 1855, and women artists were few. Through words, photographs, and paintings by Cassatt, Degas, and others, this book illustrates how Cassatt became America's greatest impressionist painter despite the obstacles. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Inspirational and beautiful
I bought this book for an artistic niece and was very pleased with its text and image quality. Mary Cassatt, Impressionist Painter is a very articulate and thoughtful book about a woman who followed her dream to become an artist and supported herself and her family in France and on the Continent.The book is gorgeously illustrated with Cassat's own paintings and the work of Cassat's contemporaries.The author has described the challenges Cassat needed to overcome, as a woman, as an American, and as a painter, and given a detailed account of Cassat's achievements and style as an impressionist. I highly recommend this book if you, or a young friend, have an interest in inspirational women, painters, or impressionists, or if you have an interest in the lifestyle and activities of women during the latter part of the nineteenth century.

A must read for the child artist
Mary Cassatt: Impressionist Painter

Lovely images of Mary's work throughout the book. I believe Mary would have been proud to read about the depiction of difficulties she encountered before the women's movement. Lois Harris also describes the perfection of style and subject matter which has made her art the treasure that it is.

Inspirational
This is a lovely story book for early elementary aged children, with gorgeous pictures that show not only Cassatt's paintings but other paintings that give a feel for the time period in which she lived. Visually very appealing for both adults and children, with an engaging story that tells how Cassatt, against the odds, succeeded, while staying true to her own artistic vision. Perfect for reading out loud to the little ones at home, or for use as part of an early elementary art curriculum. ... Read more

Book Description

Product Description
Born into the male dominated world of the nineteenth century, middle-class Pennsylvania society, Mary Cassatt became a feminist and turned what was a lady’s accomplishment into a profession becoming a radical painter, working in Paris and exhibiting with the Impressionists. Degas, Manet, Gauguin and Pissaro, amongst others, knew and admired her work, and yet, since her death in 1926, Cassatt has received little critical acclaim, and her importance, both personally as an individual artist and historically within the evolution of the Impressionist movement, has largely been obscured. The efforts of the feminist movement in the last decade, however, have stimulated long-deserved public and critical interest in Mary Cassatt.Griselda Pollock examines the reasons for the unjust neglect of one of America’s outstanding artistic talents. She gauges the wide variety of influences which shaped her career, from her commitment to her early oils and pastels and her study of the techniques of the Old Masters, her exploration of modernist ideas to her later interest in the methods of Japanese print-making. Despite the tremendous diversity of her sources, Cassatt pursued one theme - the depiction of women in all phases of their lives - defending the portrayal of maternity and womanhood from the charges of sentimentality. Pollock argues that through her oeuvre, Cassatt, a woman painting women, reworked with increasing power and insight the traditional iconography of woman as Madonna, as Venus and as Eve, questioning its basic assumptions and transforming women from objects to be looked at to people to be understood. ... Read more

Book Description
This new edition asks probing questions.Where was Mary Cassatt born?What is special about her paintings?What did she like to paint?Read 'The Life and Work of: Mary Cassatt' to answer these questions and more.Each book in 'The Life and Work of...' series tells the story of a famous artist.You'll learn about their lives.You'll see how the things that happened to them and the people who they met changed the way they made their art. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Amazon.com
For readers who are looking for an instructive first glance or an introduction to Mary Cassatt, this book is perfect. The medium-sized volume contains a biography of Cassatt by art historian Debra Mancoff and also offers reproductions that are surprisingly large and clear. These plates give readers as accurate a view as is possible in a book of Cassatt's virtuoso brushwork, sure-handed lines, and soft, deep aquatints.

Mancoff includes many of the artist's piquant remarks (as well as quotes from her friends and acquaintances, who found Cassatt often charming, always impressive, and sometimes "slashing" in her outspokenness). Upon seeing Degas's work for the first time, Cassatt flattened her nose against the window of the shop where they were shown, "to absorb all I could."When Degas urged her to exhibit with the impressionists instead of in the stuffy, official French salon, she "accepted with joy," she wrote."I hated conventional art. I began to live." Mancoff has a nice touch with details, and her book should be just right for anyone who wants to learn more about this gifted and ambitious artist. The long, enriched captions for the plates are like the tape-recorded tours that accompany major exhibitions. They give the reader enough historical and critical background to make the works of art as meaningful as possible. --Peggy Moorman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great reproductions, good text, great price
This book supplies excellent reproductions of most of Mary Cassat's most famous paintings. Having seen the original of the cover painting in the Art Institute in Chicago, I can say the often distorted color tones are accurately photographed here.

The text is a very readable discussion of how Mary Cassat's paintings reflect women's lives in the late nineteenth century. Those looking for more painterly criticism--composition, palatte, influences, brush-work, etc. will not find much of that in this book. As Digby Baltzell wrote in his "Puritan Boston, Quaker Philadelphia," by 1900 American painting was dominated by John Singer Sergeant, Cecilia Beaux, and Mary Cassat, all of whom shared a Yankee background (mixed with French for Cassat and Beaux), connections in Philadelphia, extensive European experience, and a firm place in the social elite. Without idealization or false nostalgia, Debra Mancoff shares Mary Cassat's loving regard for the importance of the feminine side of this world of gentility.

Did I say it was a great deal? If good reproductions in a solid hardback binding of a great painter's oeuvre are what you are looking for this is a very good buy. ... Read more

Book Description
Little Suzette and her nursemaid enjoy daily walks in the handsome park near their home. Often, they see a tall, elegant lady strolling in the park with her tiny puppy. Then, a comical incident transforms Suzette and the puppy into friends. The time and place of this gentle story is Paris in the 1870s, when many fine artists were creating the exciting approach to painting called Impressionism. As it happens, little Suzette's Uncle Edgar is one of those artists. He is the famous Edgar Degas. One day, Uncle Edgar sends an artist to paint Suzette's picture. Imagine Suzette's surprise, when the artist turns out to be the tall lady from the park! And imagine Suzette's delight when the little puppy comes with her! The result of this enchanting meeting lives on to this day in an art masterpiece. For the woman was the major American artist, Mary Cassatt. Her painting of Suzette and the little dog, known as The Little Girl in the Blue Armchair, now hangs in the National Gallery of Art, in Washington, D.C. Among this book's many beautiful full-color illustrations is a reproduction of the story's painting. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Charming story about an artist, a little girl, and a dog
Nice book about an event in a little girl's life that introduces the child to Mary Cassatt and "Nipper," the dog. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Eye of the Independent
She called herself one of the Independents. The world remembers her as the Impressionist who painted "The Boating Party," the choice for a first-class U.S. postage stamp and one of the most widely reproduced paintings. She was behind America's first purchase of Impressionist art:a Degas painting. In fact, friend and mentor Edgar Degas advised her on the farther window light and floor for "Little Girl in an Armchair" and praised "Girl Arranging her Hair," the Japanese woodblock print inspired "Bath," and "Mother and Boy."

The book's first plate, "The Bacchante," lets viewers know what MARY CASSATT: PAINTINGS AND PRINTS were all about:women communicating with others and hinting at states of mind behind beautifully lighted and shaded fabrics, such as "Woman with a Red Zinnia"; flesh, such as the swiftly scribbled modeling to "Mother, Young Daughter and Son"; and furnishings, such as the Opera House banquette and chandelier ovals taking up the ovals from the figure and reflected figure of her sister "Lydia Leaning on her Arms, Seated in a Loge." Art critic and historian Frank Getlein backs his well-written text with 72 well-chosen plates. His book and Griselda Pollock's MARY CASSATT: PAINTER OF MODERN WOMEN give the perfect examples for Michel Melot's THE IMPRESSIONIST PRINT, Paul Smith's IMPRESSIONISM, Gary Tinterow's ORIGINS OF IMPRESSIONISM, and Helene Barbara Weinberg et al's AMERICAN IMPRESSIONISM AND REALISM. ... Read more

Amazon.com
The American painter Mary Cassatt, who rubbed elbows with the impressionists over a century ago, looks ready for a boom, with a big traveling exhibition of her work touring the Chicago Art Institute, the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., and Boston's Museum of Fine Arts in 1998-1999. It would be difficult to find a more intelligent introductory guide than this one by feminist art critic Griselda Pollock, who teaches social and critical histories at the University of Leeds, England. Pollock's most familiar previous book is Old Mistresses: Women, Art, and Ideology, and she scotches the widespread idea of Mary Cassatt as a soft and wimpy painter of babies, similar to Auguste Renoir, who is also victimized by critics today for his soft female images. Instead, Pollock sees Cassatt as the "painter of modern women" who was unafraid of such tough artistic influences as Degas, Courbet, and Manet. In this clearly written guide, Cassatt's courage shines through, but also her variety. Readers may begin to look at the women and children in the paintings and discern new expressions in their faces, not just the sweet sentiment that has usually been interpreted therein. This is a revelatory book to accompany what looks likely to be a revelatory exhibit. --Benjamin IvryBook Description
This groundbreaking new study redefines Mary Cassatt's status in the Parisian avant-garde and in American art, placing her work in the wider context of nineteenth-century feminism and art theory. Admired by Degas--who invited her to exhibit with the Impressionists in 1877--Cassatt brought a New Women's perspective to the theater, drawing room, garden, and studio. Griselda Pollock emphasizes Cassatt's study of Old Masters and interest in Manet's work, and stresses her great influence on the creation of American collections of French modernism. She argues that Cassatt's experimentation with etching and pastels from the late 1880s enabled her to represent women and children without sentiment, but with a deepening awareness of a complex psychological charge. Professor of Social and Critical Histories of Art at the University of Leeds, Griselda Pollock's many books include Old Mistresses: Women, Art, and Ideology (with Roszika Parker). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Long winded
A tough read.Way too many details and she is all over the place.I bought tghis book as a required text for a class and I would not recommend it again.

An absolute gorgeous outline of the mind of Mary Cassatt
I am a teen in a class called E.L.P. (Expanded Learning Program) and we were asked to deeply research an eminent person.I am an adorer of Edgar Degas and I knew of the relationship he had with Mary Cassatt.This turnedme to do the research on her.I bought this book at the Chicago ArtInstitue when I toured her work.This gives a great description of thewonderful women behind this artwork that she creates.I believe she shouldbe more emphisized when people think of art.This book really explains whoshe is.It is a must read! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A collection of the work of a trailblazing female artist
Mary Cassatt was truly a pioneer in the art world, paving the way for women to branch out beyond the "female domain." Her art career began in 1872, when her first painting was exhibited in Paris. During her career, she was deeply appreciated in France, but largely ignored in her native United States, even though she received her artist's training in Philadelphia.
This book is a collection of her work and if they knew nothing about the artist, most people would be able to determine that the artist was female. Most of the scenes in the book depict a woman doing something typical of women in the nineteenth century. Women are holding children, giving them baths; children are posing for portraits or women attending social events. In the rare occasions that men appear, they are doing "men work" and are extraneous to the action.
One of the true trailblazers of the women's movement, Cassatt herself never realized the significance of her achievements. Shortly before her death in 1926, she was quoted as saying, "After all, a woman's vocation in life is to bear children." However, despite her thoughts she did break an enormous amount of new ground in the changing role of women. By demonstrating that women could create quality art, she helped make it possible for women to gain opportunities in all walks of life. This book is a sound tribute to that fact.
... Read more

Book Description

Amazon.com
Mary Cassatt: Modern Woman is the extensive, beautifully produced, coffee-table-size catalog of an exhibition of the same name at the Art Institute of Chicago in the fall of 1998. It is filled with 100 color plates and scores of other pictures, including Cassatt family snapshots, images of works by Cassatt's teachers and influential associates, postcards, and other related personal and historical items. Included too are six essays, on topics ranging from Cassatt's "modern education" to her intelligent guidance of the wealthy American art-lovers who later bequeathed their impressive impressionist collections to several major United States museums. While each has much to offer, Kevin Sharp's essay "How Mary Cassatt Became an American Artist" is particularly interesting and has great narrative flair. The sections on Cassatt's alternately infuriating and gratifying relationship with the legendary Paris dealer Paul Durand-Ruel are page-turners.

Readers who are mostly lookers, and who intend to spend their time with the large color plates, will also be amply rewarded. These do full justice to Cassatt's draftsmanship, color, and design, while reaffirming her as the warmly empathetic, but thoroughly unsentimental, observer of young mothers and their plump, beloved babies. The book has but one tiny defect, which will irritate only the most casual readers: its captions for the most part give only minimally identifying information for the people, paintings, and places pictured. When the plates and illustrations are not adjacent to the germane parts of the text, readers must peruse the essays in order to understand their significance. --Peggy Moorman Book Description
Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) holds a unique place in the history of art. One of the few women artists to succeed professionally in her era, she was the only American invited to exhibit with the French Impressionists. This handsome volume, richly illustrated with paintings, prints, and pastels spanning Cassatt's entire career, accompanies a major traveling exhibition that opens at The Art Institute of Chicago in October 1998.

Essays trace Cassatt's development from her early influences through her critical role in bringing Old Master and Impressionist art to the United States. The superb colorplates clearly demonstrate why Cassatt is considered one of North America's most important artists.

Supplementary works by Cassatt's contemporaries are reproduced along with numerous photographs and the first complete list of exhibitions in which Cassatt participated in her lifetime. The exhibition travels to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Judith A. Barter is Field-McCormick Curator of American Arts at The Art Institute of Chicago.

George T. M. Shackelford is curator of European paintings, and Erica E.Hirshler is associate curator in the Department of American Arts at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Kevin Sharp and Andrew Walker work in the Department of American Arts at The Art Institute of Chicago. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

beautifully presented, somewhat interesting
A collection of interesting essays (and representations of her works) onthe artist and her life give the reader good, broad and varied sense aboutwho Mary Cassatt was and how important she was in helping America todiscover impressionism. MC is an artist that merits to be better recognizedand this book serves a good purpose. - Yet for people that have alreadystudied MC and want to learn more on detailed aspects of her art, this bookwill probably not be sufficient - Griselda Pollock has written a book ifound very useful called 'mary cassatt painter of modern women' which hassome well-founded arguments about her works and intentions and is veryinteresting and more original than this collection of well presented andnevertheless good essays. ... Read more

Book Description

One of the greatest--and most popular--of the Impressionists, Mary Cassatt created some of her most inventive and appealing images in the print medium. Documenting a startling new discovery, this exquisitely produced book unveils 204 major prints and drawings that have been sequestered in a private collection for nearly half a century.

Sometime before 1914, as Cassatt neared the end of her career, she was coaxed into selling her "studio collection"--etchings, monotypes, color aquatints, and drawings that she had kept for sentimental or archival purposes--to the dealer Ambroise Vollard. He added a few pieces to the collection from other notable Cassatt fans, including her friend Edgar Degas. When World War I disrupted the art market, Vollard tucked this remarkable collection away and never exhibited it before his death on the eve of World War II. The entire group was acquired by a French collector, who showed only a few works to friends and selected members of the art community.

Many of the prints, which are in pristine condition, are previously unknown variants of Cassatt's work; others have never before been seen in any version. Because Cassatt's output as a printmaker was quite small and because her color prints are praised for being among her most radically innovative works, this discovery is an extraordinary event in an art world where demand for Cassatt's art seems insatiable.

The catalogue section of the book documents in exacting detail and in superb illustrations the 41 color prints, 127 black-and-white prints, and 36 drawings that constitute what is now known as the studio collection. Essays by leading experts tell the story of this rare collection and explore Cassatt's virtuosity as a printmaker. The result is an important and unusually beautiful publication that will intensify interest in this much-loved artist and stimulate a new appreciation of her significant contributions to modern printmaking.