Susan Macdowell Eakins was an American painter active in Philadelphia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, she developed a practice mainly devoted to portraiture, scenes of everyday life, and self-portraits.

Her work is distinguished by an intimate and attentive approach, particularly in her depictions of women, children, and those close to her. At a time when women's access to artistic training and professional recognition remained limited, she pursued her painting with determination and took part in several exhibitions.

Long less well known than her male contemporaries, Susan Macdowell Eakins is today the subject of renewed interest. Her work reveals a sensitive and independent artist whose paintings offer a singular insight into the American life and culture of her era.