READING REFLECT #5

Modern Women Art Student Name Institutional Affiliation Course Code Instructor Date Art and social beliefs and practices have been viewed from many angles. Researchers have tried to examine it, especially artworks performed by females, especially at a time when patriarchal structures were dominant. The article delves into the ambiguities and complexities surrounding the life and work of the American expatriate artist Mary Cassatt. It evaluates whether Cassatt's art represented the "modern woman" breaking free from societal constraints or was ultimately a product of the prevailing "cult of true womanhood" that confined women to domestic spheres. The reading discusses points like Cassatt's negotiation between her progressive ambitions and the traditional notions of femininity, the gendered reception of her work in the male-dominated art world, and the influence of social contexts like the French depopulation crisis on her celebrated depictions of mothers and children. In the first part, the author features Mary Cassatt's 1893 mural "Modern Woman" for the Woman's Building at the Chicago Columbian Exposition as a great message on female empowerment, especially for female artists and access to knowledge. However, Cassatt's words revealed her ambivalence, stating her aim was to convey the "sweetness of childhood" and "charm of womanhood" - adhering to traditional feminine ideals. This dichotomy between progressive artistic expression and ingrained gender norms was typical of 19th-century women artists and intellectuals. Her statement further shows the stru...