---
title: Reading Le Figaro by Cassatt
author: Mary Cassatt
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15908/reading-le-figaro-by-cassatt/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Reading Le Figaro by Cassatt
_Authored by Mary Cassatt_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15908.png)
## Image Caption
An 1878 oil on canvas, *Reading Le Figaro*, by [Mary Cassatt](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mary_Cassatt/) (1844-1926), the American impressionist painter. The choice of newspaper, one usually read by men in this period, indicates the artists' intention to show the model, her mother, as someone who was not a traditional female figure but someone with advanced views on what [women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/) should concern themselves with. The mirror on the right is a nod to traditional portraitists who frequently used the device to show another side of the subject, but here Cassatt chooses not to do that and to only show the reflection of the newspaper, emphasising its importance in revealing her mother's character. (Private Collection)
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cassatt, M. (2022, May 22). Reading Le Figaro by Cassatt. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cassatt, Mary. "Reading Le Figaro by Cassatt." *World History Encyclopedia*, May 22, 2022. .
### MLA
Cassatt, Mary. "Reading Le Figaro by Cassatt." *World History Encyclopedia*, 22 May 2022, .
## License & Copyright
[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Cassatt,_Reading_%E2%80%9CLe_Figaro%E2%80%9D,_1878,_Collection_Mrs._Eric_de_Spoelberch,_Haverford,_Pennsylvania.jpg) by [**Mary Cassatt**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Cassatt,_Reading_%E2%80%9CLe_Figaro%E2%80%9D,_1878,_Collection_Mrs._Eric_de_Spoelberch,_Haverford,_Pennsylvania.jpg). Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 22 May 2022. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.