Susan on a Balcony Holding a Dog [verso] c. 1883

Mary Cassatt's drawing presents Susan, rendered with sepia ink on paper, sitting on a balcony, cradling a dog. The composition is structured by a series of vertical lines—balcony railings and architectural supports. The model is framed against a barely suggested cityscape, evoking a sense of contemplative interiority contrasted with the expansive world beyond. Cassatt uses line and form economically. Her marks create shape and shadow that suggest depth and texture, primarily in the figure's clothing and the dog's form. Light seems to softly envelop the scene. We notice Cassatt's keen observation of modern life; the balcony becomes a transitional space between private and public. Susan, in this domestic tableau, reflects the era’s evolving roles and representations of women. In its formal simplicity, the sketch evokes a sense of immediacy, inviting viewers to consider the nuances of daily experience and the subtle interplay between the individual and their environment.