The American painter Mary Cassatt is not only famous for all the fantastic Mary Cassatt artworks but also for her hard work as an activist for equal rights for the sexes in art. She was the first woman to “infiltrate” exhibitions and movements seen as male-exclusive in the late 1800s. That she was successful as an activist, but more so as an artist, is evident if you look at the popularity of her artworks nowadays and the prices some of them have reached in art auctions.
While her work was not consistently recognized in the early years of her career, the 306 paintings she created are all sought after. Many of her works are part of permanent exhibitions in art museums, and collectors quickly pick up the works being put up for sale by private owners. Although some of her works are still available at prices around $1,000, others have been sold for whopping millions. Let’s look at some of Mary Cassatt’s paintings that reached high selling prices.
The wide price range of Cassatt’s artworks
American painter Mary Cassatt artworks have been offered at auction multiple times. The prices range from below $1 000 to as much as $6.2 million. Some of the most expensive works include “Children playing with a Dog” ($6.2 million), “Mother and two Children” ($4,272,000), and “Reading le Figaro” ($1.1 million).
Paintings below $1 million but still more than $100,000 include “Sara in a red Dress” ($106,250) and “Two Children at the Window” ($145,312). There are Cassatt’s paintings that were sold for less than $5,000, including “Denise holding her Child” ($2,250), “Antoine holding her Child” ($1,613), and “Looking into the Hand Mirror #3” ($1,000).
This doesn’t mean that you have to shell out a lot of amount to add Cassatt’s artwork to decorate your home. If you are an enthusiastic admirer of Mary Cassatt’s artworks, you can always commission a replica oil painting that looks just as good as the original production.
Children playing with a Dog
Children Playing with a Dog – Mary Cassatt
The last time this painting was auctioned, it sold for $6.2 million because it is an exceptional example of the painter Mary Cassatt’s depictions of motherhood. In “Children Playing with a Dog,” Cassatt depicts the unconditional love and complex relationship between a mother and her children. The artwork was completed in 1907 and was sold by Christie’s auction house.
Most of her work consists of women and children in everyday situations. Her paintings and sketches of mothers and children usually depict mothers’ love for their children. This beautiful artwork of a mother and her two children playing with a dog represents Cassatt’s love to paint children and their mothers.
“Children playing with a Dog” is exceptional as it is one of only a few of Mary Cassatt’s artworks, including a landscape seen through a window. This work exemplifies Cassatt’s artistic style that incorporated her worldview with Impressionism and Realism elements. For instance, the texture of the girl’s silken skirt contrasts with the dog’s fur and is done in detail. The overall artwork is painted in an Impressionistic style.
Reading le Figaro
Another of Mary Cassatt’s famous paintings sold for more than a million is “Reading le Figaro.” It sold for a significant amount of $1.1 million.
This artwork depicts an elderly lady seated in a chair. She is concentrating on the newspaper she is reading. Many art scholars believe that the lady in the chair is Cassatt’s mother, Katherine Cassatt. This work was painted while Cassatt’s mother stayed with her and another daughter, Lydia, in Paris.
However, some art scholars say that the painting does not indicate the woman’s maternal role. They believe that the painting emphasizes the characteristics of the elderly lady, which are different from the conventional ideas of the time regarding older ladies. She is, for instance, reading a newspaper – an activity associated with men at that time. These art scholars believe that “Reading le Figaro” shows Cassatt’s ideas about women’s rights.
Two Children at the Window
When you learn about Mary Cassatt’s famous paintings, you realize that her famous “Two Children at the Window” was created in 1868 when she was only 20. The artwork was sold for $145,312.
The painting is an early example of Mary Cassatt’s lifelong passion for the theme of children and their parents. “Two Children at the Window” depicts a quiet, domestic setting. She received great acclaim later in her career for depicting children in domestic and “normal” circumstances.
Sara in a Red Dress
“Sara in a red dress” was painted in 1901 and was sold for $106,250. This painting is an excellent example of Mary Cassatt’s experimentation and exploration of the single child theme.
It is also typical of the stylistic maturity of Cassatt’s later works. Although she worked during her entire career in France, her art is indeed “international.”
When you study Mary Cassatt’s drawings and paintings, you’ll find that she used the sturdy American temperament of her heritage and fused the native qualities with a deep appreciation and thorough knowledge of the painting tradition of France. In 1901 Cassatt started to employ Sara as a model. The sweetness of her face and the ethereality of her features made her Cassatt’s favorite model.
“Sara in a red Dress” was one of the first artworks where Cassatt changed from creating portraits to creating artworks that can be described as compositions.
Conclusion
Cassatt’s artworks are becoming increasingly sought after worldwide and thus more expensive at every art auction. So whether you want to own a Cassatt for its artistic value or only as an investment, now is the best time to start checking out art auction notices.
