In the late 19th century, Mary Cassatt was the only American artist invited into the Impressionist circle in Paris. She was a close friend of Edgar Degas, who said of her work: “I am not willing to admit a woman can draw that well”. Her paintings and prints explored the lives of women and she was actively involved in the suffragist movement. She encouraged friends to buy works by the Old Masters and the Impressionists, which became the foundation for collections of European art in American museums today.
Producer: David Swatling
Broadcast: August 10, 1999