The Mary Cassatt article focuses on the coming to birth of the modern woman through art. In this regard, the author presents varying types of evidences to support her thesis of the place of women in the society. Women in the past did not have a formidable voice, and were only relegated and defined in terms of their household chores and societal duty to take care of their families. The author, through her focus on the famous American immigrant artist, Mary Cassatt analyzes this aspect in relation to the former’s pieces of art.
This illustration faced intense criticism owing to the lack of a male figure, and the mere act of a woman reading a newspaper was considered highly controversial and political, aspects that were not appreciated in the 19th century society. In addition, the author uses the support of secondary sources in the form of past writings by famous individuals to illustrate women’s place in the society. For instance, the author uses French philosopher, Jean Jacques Rousseau’s work in which case he indicates of the weak nature and lesser nature of women. However, this aspect later changed as the weaknesses that were attributed with womanhood became their main strengths. In this case, the author presents a developing viewpoint from historians such as Jules Michelet, who indicate that the nature of women is what would save society. This is because it was believed women were the society’s moral compass, owing to their nature which in turn became a source of their superiority. The author also uses historical data in the French society to illustrate the changes in society that promulgated the role of women in the society. One of these was the controversial Education Law which saw the establishment of the first girls’ secondary school. In spite of challenges in obtaining an education, society for the first time was beginning to appreciate the underlying benefits of an educated woman.
The evidence provided fully justifies and proves the author’s thesis as it provides an accurate description of women in the past society, their struggles for liberation, and the attainment of the respect and their rightful place in the society. The provision of visual paintings by various artists as well as the use of historical information about different societies presents a precise, logical, and thoughtful pace of development to the final culmination of the modern woman.
Work Cited
Broude, Norma. Mary Cassatt: Modern woman or the cult of true womanhood? Woman’s Art Journal, 2001. Print.
