Tip: move over the painting to use the lens.

On a Balcony

Artist: Mary Cassatt (American, 1844–1926)
Date: 1878–79
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 85.2 × 65.5 cm (33 9/16 × 25 13/16 in.)
Made in: France
Style: Impressionism
Where to see it: Art Institute of Chicago

Gift of Mrs. Albert J. Beveridge in memory of her aunt, Delia Spencer Field · CC0 Public Domain · Art Institute of Chicago · image via Wikimedia Commons · see it at the museum ↗

Notes from the museum

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.

Text: Art Institute of Chicago (open access). Our full story for this work is coming soon.

Slow Look

The whole picture Let your eyes wander. Where do they want to rest?
The light Find the brightest spot. What is it showing you?
The edges Look at what is half cut off at the borders.
One small detail Choose one tiny thing and stay with it for a while.
The whole picture again Step back. Has it changed for you?

About Mary Cassatt

Mary Stevenson Cassatt was an American painter and printmaker. She was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, but lived most of her adult life in France, where she befriended Edgar Degas and exhibited with the Impressionists. Cassatt often created images of the social and private lives of women, with particular emphasis on the intimate bonds between mothers and children.

Painter profile →