In conjunction with Mary Cassatt: an American in Paris, the National Gallery of Art Library presents an installation of archival photographs, rare catalogs, and documentation—including Cassatt’s correspondence—that explore the artist’s American ties.

Drawn from the National Gallery’s wide-ranging research collections, this special installation highlights lesser-known aspects of the renowned impressionist’s life, particularly her role as an artistic adviser to American audiences. Born and educated in Pennsylvania and active in Paris for most of her career, Cassatt made art that reflected a cosmopolitan identity. She fused her American training with a deep engagement with Japanese prints—especially those of Hiroshige, Hokusai, and Utamaro—and European painting, from old masters like El Greco and Diego Velázquez to the innovations of the French avant-garde.

Cassatt shared her artistic interests and insights with her American network of family and friends, shaping private collections, cultivating support for her own work, and guiding acquisitions for public institutions. In doing so, Cassatt fostered American appreciation for both the avant-garde and the old masters, securing her legacy as an artist and cultural mediator.