Mary Cassatt (American, 1844–1926)
On a Balcony
INV-2665
Mary Cassatt (American, 1844–1926)1878–79
On a Balcony
Mary Cassatt (American, 1844–1926) →ImpressionismModernismpaintingamerican arts
Date
1878–79
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
85.2 × 65.5 cm (33 9/16 × 25 13/16 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Albert J. Beveridge in memory of her aunt, Delia Spencer Field
Shown at the 1880 Impressionist exhibition, On a Balcony depicts a woman in a private garden surrounded by flowers rendered in energetic brushstrokes of red, blue, yellow, and pink. Mary Cassatt focused on the activities of middle- and upper-class women in society—from public outings like the theater to domestic settings such as this one. Here, the blue rail of the balcony, visible near the top of the painting, defines the enclosed space of a garden, and the sitter’s morning dress further indicates the intimacy of the location. Cassatt signaled the modernity of her subject through the woman’s choice of reading material: she peruses a newspaper rather than a novel, demonstrating that even at home, Cassatt’s subjects are connected to the contemporary world.
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