In many ways, Impressionism is a revolutionary art movement as it went against the tradition of depicting historical or mythological scenes in paintings.
Depicting daily life became one of the most important focal points for Impressionists, and thus a door was opened to female artists, who contributed greatly and gladly to the movement.
Keep in mind that in the 19th century in France, women, for the most part, could not obtain a formal art education, which often involved studying nude figures, something deemed highly scandalous for young ladies.
Marie Bracquemond was not born into an affluent family and as such did not enjoy the same creative freedom as some of her contemporaries. Due to a lack of resources, Bracquemond was largely a self-taught female Impressionist painter.
Of all the female Impressionists, Berthe Morisot is probably the most famous. Her work was reintroduced to the world in spectacular fashion in 2018 when a stunning solo exhibition of her work traveled through Europe and North America.
Cassatt was incredibly inspired by the art and culture of the European cities and decided to move to Paris in 1874. Soon after her arrival in Paris, she started showcasing her portrait paintings in the Paris Salon.
Lilla Cabot Perry was born to an affluent family in Boston. While she often enjoyed drawing as a child, she only started painting at the age of 36, after already giving birth to three girls.
Eva Gonzalès was born in Paris into a family of creatives. Her father was a novelist, and her mother a musician, and they encouraged their daughters (Eva and Jeanne) to pursue painting.
Cecilia Beaux had a natural aptitude for drawing, a skill apparently inherited from her father. Her grandparents recognized this and arranged art lessons for her when she was a teenager.
Although she didn’t exhibit with the Impressionist, her work had undeniable Impressionist qualities, including her habit to paint outside, her quick brushstrokes, and her color palette.