On the Balcony c. 1889

Mary Cassatt created “On the Balcony,” an etching in drypoint and aquatint, capturing a moment of quiet domesticity. Cassatt, an American expatriate, lived and worked amongst the Impressionists in late 19th-century Paris. This print invites us to consider the role of women in that era, confined to the domestic sphere, yet subtly asserting their presence and perspective. The woman, possibly a caregiver, sits with a child, their gaze directed outward, hinting at a longing for connection with the world beyond their private space. Cassatt, who never married nor had children, devoted much of her oeuvre to images of women and children. Her unique viewpoint challenges traditional representations of motherhood by showing women as individuals with their own desires. Her focus on the nuances of women’s lives—their relationships, intellectual pursuits, and emotional depths—offers a counter-narrative to the patriarchal structures of the time. In this light-filled image, Cassatt captures a sense of belonging, of being both within and apart from society.