Child in a Straw Hat c. 1886

Mary Cassatt, an American artist working within the French Impressionist circle, painted this quiet portrait of a ‘Child in a Straw Hat’ using oil on canvas. Cassatt was one of a group of female artists who were changing the game for women in the arts. At this time, the Paris Salon was the main institution for art and dictated what was considered culturally relevant. Although the Salon was open to women artists, they were consistently underrepresented. Cassatt took on the male-dominated art world by exhibiting with the Impressionists, helping to establish them as a legitimate artistic movement. Her paintings often depict women in domestic and social settings, challenging traditional gender roles. This portrait of a child is an exploration of childhood, painted with an informal relaxed style. By studying her life and the social context of the late 19th century we can understand the progressive nature of her artistic choices. Historical sources, such as letters and exhibition reviews, shed light on her position within the art world and her contribution to the evolving representation of women.