Mary Stevenson Cassatt: A Pioneer of Modern Portraiture Born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania – now part of Pittsburgh – in 1844, Mary Stevenson Cassatt was a remarkably independent and influential figure in the late 19th-century art world. Her life story is one of transatlantic journeys, artistic mentorships, and a profound dedication to capturing the intimate realities of women’s lives, particularly within the context of family and domesticity. Unlike many female artists of her era, Cassatt wasn't initially groomed for a career in painting; her father, Robert Simpson Cassat, a successful st…