COOPERSTOWN — The Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, announced it will host two exhibits this summer, “Mary Cassatt/Berthe Morisot: Allies in Impressionism,” and “The Power of Photography: 19th-20th Century Original Master Prints” from May 24 through Sept. 1.
According to a news release, the Cassatt/Morisot exhibit “highlights the influence these two artists had on one another and their overarching impact on the Impressionist movement.” The Parisian art scene in the late 19th century was fueled by change as artists branched out from the stuffy and stifling Paris Salon and experimented with new styles and methods of depicting modern life. Cassatt (1844-1926) and Morisot (1841-1895) were thrust together due to their involvement in the Impressionist circle in the 1870s and 1880s and rose within the ranks to become two of the most important women artists of the period. For countless years they have served as an interesting comparison for art enthusiasts. Morisot proved a woman could have both a family and a successful career and Cassatt held the belief a woman only needed her independence to be fulfilled.
Historians of Impressionism have long wondered how these two influenced each other’s artistic output. There is much overlap in the scenes and subjects the two depict, as well as their equal ability to triumph within the male dominated Impressionist circle as two of the four women associated with the group. At a time when women’s roles in Parisian society were changing, Cassatt and Morisot were at the forefront, painting the women of Paris at the turn of the century.
“The Power of Photography: 19th-20th Century Original Master Prints” will feature a “selection of 120 iconic images by 120 different photographers, which celebrate the photograph’s unique capacity for relatability,” according to the release.
Fenimore will presents 11 exhibits this year alongside its world-renowned collections of fine art, folk art and Native American art, which includes The Thaw Collection of American Indian Art. Exhibits that opened April 1 and will be on exhibit through Dec. 31 are “Boundless Spirit: American Folk Art at the Fenimore Art Museum” and “American Masterworks.”
Fenimore Art Museum at 5798 state Route 80 in Cooperstown is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday until May 23. From May 24 through Sept. 1, the museum will also be open Mondays.