Mary Cassatt (1845-1926) Although American by
birth, Ms Cassatt spent most of her life in France
and studied their under Degas. It was primarily her
work that introduced America to Impressionism.

In 1844 a mother, Priscilla Johnson, writes about her
children in her diary, "How little does this book convey
any idea of the almost ceaseless engrossment of my
heart, mind, and time about them. Every day seems
marked by care about the body, conduct or circum-
stances of one or other of these precious, anxious
treasures! I sometimes think if I were taken away, it
would be almost a pity they should have no more rec-
ord of my travail of spirit for and about them.
(Linda Pollock, A Lasting Relationship: 1987 from Mrs
Johnson's diary)

Baby Bill in His Cap, a pastel on paper composition,
is believed to have been completed in 1890.

To keep with the artist's wishes we will refrain from
displaying any of the rare photographs of her.
"It is always unpleasant to me to see the photographs
of artists accompany their work, what has the public
to do with the personal appearance of the author of
a picture or statue?" ~ Mary Cassatt