Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was a pioneering impressionist, a transatlantic trailblazer, and a fierce advocate of independence. This publication offers fresh and authoritative perspectives on one of the most influential artists of the later 19th and early 20th centuries, placing portraiture, identity and modern womanhood at the centre of Cassatt's practice.

The publication explores Cassatt's career through the unifying theme of independence, tracing her artistic development across Europe and the United States. Essays by an international group of scholars examine her training, her role within the Impressionist circle, and her distinctive portrayals of women in both private and public life. Particular attention is given to Cassatt's portraits of family, friends and professional sitters, revealing how autonomy, visibility and social change shaped her work.

Featuring paintings, pastels and prints from European and American collections, many rarely reproduced, the book also consider Cassatt's influence on the transatlantic art market, her innovative printmaking, and her landmark Modern Women commission. Newly researched archival material and unpublished letters deepen our understanding of her artistic ambitions and political convictions, including her commitment to women's suffrage.

An essential reference on Mary Cassatt, portraiture and modern identity, this publication re-evaluates Cassatt through new scholarship and celebrates a landmark international collaboration with the Musee d'Orsay, Paris, National Portrait Gallery, London, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.