MARY CASSATT - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 273140

MARY CASSATT
In a handwritten letter to a friend in Paris, Cassatt explains that her art keeps her too busy to reply to most letters, but that she would welcome a visit in the Spring.
ALS: "Mary Cassatt", 6 pages, 5¼x7, front and verso. Mesnil-Beaufresne, Mesnil-Theribus (Oise), France, no date. On imprinted stationery to Miss Mary Gardner Swift. Begins: "My Dear Mary". In full: "Of course I had your letter but I never thought of answering it. If you knew what my life was you would [five words illegible] than in the [illegible] If you would love to write to me anything that you think I would I shall always be glad to know [two words illegible] I am a very busy woman. Most of my correspondence is done in French through my [illegible] Is French, she has been with us 43 years Ever since my Mothers (sic) death thirty years ago I have been alone, carrying on this place & working here. Ah my art. Of course I have been better known as an artist in France [illegible] is a member of the family In the meantime I send you my kindest regards & hope that next Spring if I am well enough you will come out and see me I had my three nephews and one niece here this last summer. Ellen Mary has a daughter born Sept 9th. Eugena also is very happily married to Charles Dans Affectionately Yours". Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. ¾-inch separations at blank right margins at mid-horizontal fold, ¼-inch separations at left margins at that fold. Heavily penned, except for three words that are light, light show-through of writing. Stray ink marks touch some words. Overall, fine condition. Accompanied by original mailing envelope, 5½x3¾. Addressed by Cassatt to: "Miss Mary Gardner Swift, Grand Hotel, 12 Bd les [illegible], Paris". French stamp affixed, postmark illegible. Shaded, touching writing. Lightly soiled, minor stains at lower blank corners. Torn open at flap on verso. Pencil note (unknown hand) at upper left margin. American-born painter Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) spent most of her adult life in France. After studying with Pissarro, she exhibited her first painting at the Paris Salon in 1872. Two years later, Cassatt met and befriended Edgar Degas and began exhibiting with the Impressionists. Her paintings, which focused on the social and private lives of women, were especially noted for depicting the bonds between mothers and children. Two items.