Susan on a Balcony Holding a Dog [recto]

The drawing Susan on a Balcony Holding a Dog [recto] by Mary Cassatt, executed in 1883, is a characteristic example of the artist's focus on intimate domestic scenes and observational studies. Created using graphite on wove paper, the work belongs to the productive period between 1876 to 1900, when this influential American artist, working primarily in France, fully embraced the stylistic principles of Impressionism. Classified as a drawing, this piece showcases the swift, economical line work and compositional clarity inherent in Cassatt’s preliminary graphic studies.

Cassatt meticulously captures the subject, presumed to be a model named Susan, situated on a balcony ledge or patio. The composition emphasizes the figure’s relaxed posture and the tender interaction with the small dog cradled securely in her arms. The setting suggests a casual, sunlit moment, characteristic of the Impressionist desire to capture the immediate experience of modern life. The medium of graphite allowed Cassatt to quickly sketch the contours of the figure and establish the subtle spatial relationships between the interiority of the figure and the implied exterior view.

This drawing serves not only as a complete study but likely functioned as preparatory work for a later, more detailed painting or one of Cassatt's famous color prints. Cassatt frequently returned to themes centered on women and children in private domestic settings, lending psychological depth and dignity to these everyday moments.

As a significant example of her draftsmanship, the work resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, confirming its importance within the history of American art. Drawings like this demonstrate the technical precision underlying Cassatt's broader artistic output. Today, many pieces from this prolific period are widely studied, and high-quality prints and reproductions of the artist’s works are commonly available, ensuring broader public domain access to her essential contributions to Impressionism.