Briefly traces the life of the American impressionist painter and provides reproductions of thirty of her paintings.

In an era when few American women thought seriously about pursuing careers outside of marriage and motherhood, Mary Cassatt's ambition and professional independence were noteworthy and unique. Cassatt: A Retrospective traces the life of this great American artist through the correspondence and accomplishments she maintained over a lifetime. Over 100 articles and documents - letters to and from friends and family members as well as reviews and commentaries...

"As one of the country's greatest artists Mary Cassatt has entered the ranks of American heroes," Mathews concludes after 15 years' research. The shortness of the volume (and the plentitude of excellent black-and-white illustrations and color plates) tends to restrict this monograph to survey length. Yet the book includes a clear definition of the artist's personality, a revised chronology, and a balanced analysis of Cassatt's development, showing...