Lecture: Modern Woman—Mary Cassatt's 1893 Mural for Chicago
About the event
In 1892–93, Mary Cassatt seized the opportunity to try something new: she created a monumental mural for the World’s Columbian Exposition, an immersive fair that ran for six months in Chicago. One of the earliest public mural commissions by a female artist in the United States, Modern Woman soared above visitors in the Woman’s Building. In both subject matter and aesthetics, Cassatt made bold choices. Portraying women and girls engaged in outdoor activities, Cassatt transformed the everyday into a grand, symbolic vision of female agency. Her modernist vocabulary, featuring strong forms and flattened passages of vivid color, amplified her message.
The location of the immense canvas is unknown, and it is presumed to be destroyed. While it is difficult today to imagine the experience of seeing Modern Woman in person, by piecing together enduring traces of the project, including related works and rich archival materials, the fascinating story of the mural comes to light.
Join Annelise K. Madsen, curator of Mary Cassatt: After Impressionism, as she explores Cassatt’s daring composition and the stakes of this unrivaled public decoration.
About the Speaker
If you have any questions about programming, please reach out to museum-programs@artic.edu.
Closed captioning will be available for this program. For questions related to accessibility accommodations, please email access@artic.edu.
