At the Window Mary Stevenson Cassatt (1844-1926)

The pastel drawing presents a young child positioned near a window, viewed from behind and in profile. The figure is unclothed, their skin rendered with a delicate interplay of pinks, blues, and yellows that suggest both the play of light and an underlying vulnerability. A faint golden necklace adorns the neck, hinting at a degree of privilege or familial connection.
The child’s posture conveys a sense of quiet contemplation; they are seated on what appears to be a draped fabric – perhaps a chair or cushion – and their gaze is directed towards something outside the frame, beyond the window. The curtain itself is depicted with loose, flowing strokes, creating a blurred and indistinct backdrop that further emphasizes the child’s isolation within the scene.
The artists use of pastel lends an immediacy to the work; the marks are visible and expressive, contributing to a sense of intimacy and spontaneity. There is a deliberate lack of sharp definition in the contours of the body, which softens the figure and avoids any overt sensuality. Instead, the focus seems to be on capturing a fleeting moment of introspection or observation.
Subtly, the drawing explores themes of childhood innocence, privacy, and the act of looking. The window serves as both a physical barrier and a symbolic threshold – separating the child from an unseen world while simultaneously connecting them to it. The absence of any other figures reinforces the sense of solitude and invites speculation about the child’s inner life and their relationship to the space they inhabit. The overall effect is one of poignant stillness, prompting reflection on the complexities of childhood experience.