Museum Reveals Degas, Cassatt's Interaction In Art

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Works by Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt usually reside in separate French and American wings of an art museum, and rarely ever does their art hang together.

Now the National Gallery of Art is studying how these impressionists influenced each other and how Cassatt introduced Degas to American audiences. The new show "Degas/Cassatt" opens Sunday as the first major exhibition to explore their relationship.

With little documentation left to research the artists' interaction, curators turned to a careful analysis of artworks to reveal their collaboration. They even used X-rays and infrared imagery.

Curators say Degas' influence on Cassatt is widely known in the art world. But Cassatt's role in shaping Degas' work has been more of a mystery.
"Degas/Cassatt" will be on view through Oct. 5.