Sara avec son chien 1901

Mary Cassatt, an American artist who spent most of her adult life in France, made this pastel drawing of "Sara avec son chien," or "Sara with her dog," some time during the late nineteenth century. Cassatt was part of the Impressionist group of painters, and many of them focused on modern life. One aspect of that modernity was a changing understanding of childhood. Before this time, children in art were often portrayed as miniature adults, but artists like Cassatt began to focus on the unique experiences of children, especially young girls. Cassatt herself never married or had children, but children were a frequent subject in her work. To understand Cassatt’s paintings of women and children, it's helpful to research the social and cultural history of nineteenth-century France. What was the role of women in French society? How did ideas about childhood change during this period? By exploring these questions, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the meaning and significance of Cassatt's art.