On a Balcony
Mary Cassatt (American, 1844–1926)
1878–79
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Classification
- Painting
- Dimensions
- 85.2 × 65.5 cm (33 9/16 × 25 13/16 in.)
- Culture
- France
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago, Arts of the Americas
- Credit line
- Gift of Mrs. Albert J. Beveridge in memory of her aunt, Delia Spencer Field
- Rights
- Public domain (CC0), as the museum states it.
- Who can see it
- Tweens profiles and older: its subjects are known and suit older children. How works are placed
View at the Art Institute of Chicago
About this work
In this vibrant portrayal of a woman reading, Cassatt amplified her palette and brushwork, using energetic daubs of red, yellow, pink, and blue to describe the floral backdrop and the figure’s patterned dress. The balcony’s blue rail, visible near the top of the painting, defines the garden’s enclosed space, and her morning attire likewise emphasizes the setting’s intimacy. Reading a newspaper rather than a novel demonstrates that even at home, the woman is connected to the contemporary world. The painting was included in the 1880 Impressionist exhibition, Cassatt’s second showing with the group.
Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0
