Although Mary Cassatt was a member of and surrounded by an astounding Impressionist circle, she was drawn to one genius and artist in particular. Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt shared a very unique and intimate relationship. Both rejecting the conservative artistic directions, Cassatt and Degas' restless intelligence drew them together (Barter, 109.) Both Degas and Cassatt inspired and facilitated each other's artistic careers. Cassatt even proclaims “the first sight of Degas' pictures was the turning point in my artistic life� (Barter, 109.) In fact, it was the sight of Degas' pastel work that turned Cassatt onto pastel for the first time (Barter, 213.) Cassatt and Degas soon became quick supporters of each other's work. For instance, Cassatt bought one of Degas' pastels and brought it back to America, making it the first Impressionist artwork to come to America (Getlein, 9.)
The way in which they influenced each other is apparent through their choice of subjects and the materials and techniques they used. Initially Cassatt copied Degas pastel work, but soon Degas was duplicating her innovative techniques of combining pastel, gouache, and metallic paint on paper mounted on canvas, as seen in Cassatt's “At the Theater� (1879) (Barter, 213.) You can also see Degas' influence in Cassatt's theater paintings, due to the Cassatt's repetitive use of fans modeled after those of Degas' twenty-two fans between 1878 and 1885.
Cassatt was well aware of the crucial role Degas played in her Career. She was younger than Degas and looked up to him as a mentor (Mathews, 30) Art Historian Getlein claims, “she sealed her destiny as an artist� by befriending Degas, he was not only her teacher and companion but also a highly influential painter in the art realm. Cassatt took their friendship very seriously and even when asked to enter her work into the Salon would not unless one of Degas works was showing as well (Getlein, 10)
This strong bond of loyalty grew stronger between them. Cassatt and Degas became very close companions, not only influencing each other's work but they soon began to paint portraits of one another. It is easy to see Degas' admiration for Cassatt from the portraits he painted of her. He painter her as a strong bold woman, and he even sometimes elevated her to the stature of a man. When women artist's skill was still being questioned, Degas painted Cassatt in a way that accented her bold, capable personality. For instance, in Degas' “Portrait of Mary Cassatt� (1884) he places her in a forward thrusting position with her legs slightly apart (Garb, 251) Art Historian Tomar Garb claims that Degas was “adapting convention of male portraiture for this representation as an unconventional woman, perhaps thereby asserting the independence and autonomy of an American woman in Paris� (Garb, 251.) It is clear that both Cassatt and Degas held each other with the up most respect and are know thought of as two of the most influential impressionist artists of heir time.
Mary Cassatt, "The Logde" (1808), 
Edgar Degas, "“Portrait of Mary Cassatt� (1884)