Cassatt painted her mother many times throughout her long career. Mrs. Cassatt is shown here at the age of 73, and her reflective pose suggests her vitality, tenderness, and intelligence. Short, delicate brushstrokes define her face and hands; the details of the shawl, flowers, and background are painted with broad strokes of color that contrast with the deep black of her dress.

Mary Cassatt was the only American to join the ranks of the French Impressionists. Born outside of Pittsburgh, she studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, subsequently traveling to Paris, the city that would become her home, in 1866. After studying the old masters, Cassatt became interested in the work of Gustave Courbet and Edouard Manet. She also developed a close friendship with Edgar Degas, who championed her inclusion in what would become the Impressionist pantheon.