Mary Stevenson Cassatt was an American artist born in Allegheny City, now part of Pittsburgh, USA on 22 May 1844, one of six children born to Robert and Katherine Cassatt. The family were wealthy, and her mother Katherine was a strong believer in educating women to be knowledgeable and socially active. So, it is not surprising that Mary Cassatt depicted the 19th century New Woman from the woman's perspective. She studied art initially in the US, but spent most of her life painting in France, returning occasionally to America to see friends. In Paris she met the artist Edgar Degas and they remained close friends with for the rest of his life. She became a member of the Impressionist group and helped develop Impressionism alongside Claude Monet,
