Mary Cassatt

American artist Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) moved to Paris for a short time with her family when she was a child. She was so enamored of the art she saw in Europe that she decided to become an artist - no mean feat for a woman at the time. She succeeded in her goal, parlaying her friendship with Edgar Degas into an opportunity to be a part of his Impressionist circle in Paris, which included Monet, Renoir and Pissarro. Cassatt is most known for her paintings of women and children engaged in everyday activities.