On the Balcony 1871

Berthe Morisot painted "On the Balcony" using watercolor at an unknown date. Morisot, as a woman in 19th century France, had a unique perspective, shaped by both privilege and restriction. Here, we see a mother and child looking out over a Parisian cityscape. Yet the balcony, acting as a liminal space, also marks a boundary. The woman is dressed in black, perhaps suggesting mourning, or a certain somberness. She leans on the railing with a melancholic air. Beside her, the child, dressed in white and blue, is a vision of innocence, holding a parasol. She seems ready to step out into the world. Morisot often depicted domestic scenes, but her work also subtly questioned women's roles. This piece captures the complexities of motherhood and the nuanced experience of women in her time, reflecting both confinement and the stirrings of freedom.