Mother and Child Smiling at Each Other 1908

Mary Cassatt, an American artist who spent much of her life in France, created this painting of a mother and child, using oil on canvas. Cassatt was one of a small group of women artists who gained recognition in the late 19th century, at a time when the art world was dominated by men. She challenged the prevailing social norms by depicting women as active and engaged individuals, rather than passive objects of desire. Her focus on the domestic sphere, particularly the bond between mothers and children, reflected the realities of many women's lives during this period. But it also elevated those lives to the realm of art. Cassatt was a master of capturing intimate moments. Scholars of social and art history can look to her images to tell us much about the changing role of women, family life, and the politics of representation in the modern era.