The artwork entitled “At the Window,” created by artist Mary Cassatt in 1889, is a pastel on paper that belongs to the genre painting category and exudes the aesthetic characteristics of the Impressionism movement. This piece exemplifies Cassatt’s keen interest in the themes of domestic life and the private moments of women and children.
The artwork captures an intimate scene, depicting a young child seen from behind as they lean against what appears to be a window sill. The child gazes outward, their attention seemingly absorbed by something beyond the frame. The use of pastel creates a softness that is signature to Cassatt’s style, with gentle strokes conveying the texture of the child’s skin and the folds of the drapery. The artist employs a delicate balance of warm and cool tones to craft the representation of light and shadow, which imbues the scene with a transient, ethereal quality characteristic of Impressionist paintings. Emotive and tender, the painting invites contemplation of the child’s experience and the quietude of the moment shared between the figure and the unseen view.
