Art for the Pandemic – and Celebration of Life

Update 03 July 2025: This post was initially published during the 2020/2021 COVID pandemic. As an art history professor, world traveler and lover of great art and art museums, I set out to connect famous art with what was going on in the world around us. First posted on Face Book, it moved into the creation of this website. Click here for additional postings on a Year in the Life of the Pandemic.

“Mother & Child”

by Mary Cassatt, c. 1897, American, Impressionist painter

Happy Mother’s Day!

Mary Cassatt is well known for her sensitive oil paintings of women and children; primarily because it was a subject that woman knew well and could paint without ridicule and without leaving the sanctity of their homes. 

Before the 20^th century, women artists were uncommon, and then only if they had the encouragement and mentoring of a brother, father or friend “in the business.”  In her case, this mentor was the French Impressionist, Edgar Degas.

Mary Cassatt was American-born, but she felt more at home with French-European art and culture and was often accused of snubbing her nose at her American roots.

This painting is in the collection of the Musee d’ Orsay, Paris, France.

If you enjoyed this post, please click on “LIKE” below! It encourages me in future posts! Thanks. Cher

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