The American painter Mary Cassatt (1844–1926) spent most of her adult life in France, where she became close friends with Edgar Degas and an important participant in the Impressionist movement. As much as the Impressionists were committed to innovation, they were aware of and connected to the artistic traditions of the past. Cassatt’s Reading Le Figaro provides an example of this mix of old and new. There is a long tradition in European painting of depictions of women reading. Such paintings include scenes of women reading prayer books in the sixteenth century, letters in the seventeenth century, and novels in the eighteenth century. In many ways, Cassatt’s work fits squarely within this tradition, except for the fact that her subject is shown reading a national political newspaper. As you examine the painting, think about the implications of this choice.

Cassatt, Mary Stevenson (1844–1926) / Private Collection / Photo (c) Christie’s Images / The Bridgeman Art Library.