A young child sits upright on a bed, unclothed, with one arm draped affectionately around the shoulders of a woman who leans in close. The woman, dressed in a pale yellow gown, gazes downward with a gentle, absorbed expression, her hands resting protectively on the child's foot and the edge of the sheet. The bed is covered in soft white linens, and a green-painted headboard frames the upper part of the scene, its color echoed in the background and the lower edge of the composition.

Behind the figures, a section of wallpaper or fabric is decorated with a vertical pattern of pink and green, adding a domestic warmth to the setting. At the lower left, a tray rests on the bed, holding a silver sugar bowl, a small pitcher, a teacup and saucer, and a plate with two red apples, all rendered with loose, luminous brushstrokes. The light falls softly from the left, illuminating the child's rosy skin and the woman's face, while leaving the background in cooler, muted tones.

Mary Cassatt’s signature appears in the lower left corner, inscribed in black near the tray. The composition is intimate and closely cropped, focusing attention on the physical and emotional bond between mother and child. Brushwork is visible throughout, especially in the woman's dress and the folds of the bed linens, where strokes of yellow, white, and blue mingle to suggest texture and light.

The scene conveys a sense of quiet domesticity, with the child’s relaxed posture and direct gaze contrasting with the mother’s gentle absorption. The museum’s description notes the presence of a woman, mother, toddler, child, bed, fruit, teacup, sugar bowl, and pitcher within the scene.