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Berthe Morisot
Berthe Morisot, one of the leading figures of the Impressionist movement, was born into a world of privilege and culture on January 14, 1841, in Bourges, France. The third of four children, she grew up in a family that placed a high value on the arts. Her father, Edmé Tiburce Morisot, served as the prefect of the department of Cher, and her mother, Marie-Joséphine-Cornélie Thomas, could trace her lineage back to the renowned Rococo painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard. This rich artistic heritage was further nurtured when the family moved to Paris in 1852, a city that would become the backdrop to Morisot’s remarkable career.
From a young age, Berthe and her sisters, Yves and Edma, were encouraged to pursue art, a somewhat unconventional choice for young women of their social standing. Initially, their artistic endeavors were more of a genteel pastime than a serious pursuit. They began taking lessons from Geoffroy-Alphonse Chocarne and later from Joseph Guichard. These early years of instruction laid the foundation for Morisot’s future as a painter. Her time spent copying masterpieces at the Louvre was particularly formative, providing her with the technical skills and artistic sensibility that would define her style.
By the time she was 23, Berthe Morisot had already made her mark on the art world. Her work was accepted into the prestigious Salon de Paris, where she exhibited regularly until 1873. During this period, she developed close relationships with some of the most influential artists of her time, including Édouard Manet and Claude Monet. These friendships would play a crucial role in her development as an artist.
Morisot’s association with the Impressionist movement began in earnest in 1874 when she joined a group of artists disillusioned with the conservative nature of the Salon. The group, which included Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Alfred Sisley, sought to capture the fleeting moments of modern life through light and color. This new approach to painting was radical and often met with criticism, but it also brought a fresh, vibrant perspective to the art world. Morisot participated in nearly all of the Impressionist exhibitions between 1874 and 1886, showcasing her unique ability to capture the subtleties of light and atmosphere.
In 1874, Berthe Morisot married Eugène Manet, Édouard Manet’s younger brother. The marriage was not only a personal union but also a professional partnership. Eugène supported his wife’s career and their home became a gathering place for artists and intellectuals. The couple had one daughter, Julie, who became a frequent subject in Morisot’s paintings. These intimate portraits of Julie offer a glimpse into the private world of a devoted mother and artist.
Morisot’s work during this period is characterized by its delicate brushwork and a subtle, almost ethereal use of color. She often painted domestic scenes, capturing the quiet moments of everyday life. Her paintings of women and children, in particular, are noted for their sensitivity and grace. Works like “The Cradle” (1872) and “Young Girl with a Parrot” (1873) exemplify her ability to convey a sense of intimacy and tranquility.
As her career progressed, Morisot continued to push the boundaries of her art. She experimented with different mediums, including watercolors, pastels, and oils, often combining them in innovative ways. Her later work shows a greater emphasis on drawing and the use of charcoal and colored pencils. She also explored new compositional techniques, influenced by photography and Japonisme, which introduced her to new ways of seeing and representing space.
Despite her success, Morisot faced many challenges as a female artist in a male-dominated field. She often had to balance her artistic ambitions with her responsibilities as a wife and mother. Nevertheless, she remained dedicated to her craft, continually evolving and refining her style. Her contributions to the Impressionist movement were significant, and her work received critical acclaim during her lifetime.
Berthe Morisot’s health began to decline in the early 1890s. Despite this, she continued to paint and exhibit her work. She contracted pneumonia while caring for her daughter Julie, who was also ill, and died on March 2, 1895, at the age of 54. Morisot was buried in the Cimetière de Passy in Paris, leaving behind a legacy that would inspire future generations of artists.
In the years following her death, Morisot’s work continued to gain recognition. Her paintings, celebrated for their elegance and lightness, have become highly valued in the art market. In 2013, her painting “After Lunch” (1881) sold for a record $10.9 million at Christie’s, underscoring her enduring appeal and the importance of her contributions to art history.
Berthe Morisot’s life and work are a testament to her extraordinary talent and determination. As a pioneering female artist, she broke new ground and created a body of work that continues to captivate and inspire. Her ability to capture the fleeting moments of everyday life with such sensitivity and grace has secured her place as one of the most important figures in the history of Impressionism.
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The Sisters 1869
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $409.00Summer’s Day 1879
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $449.00The Harbor at Lorient 1869
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $339.00View of Paris from the Trocadero
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $409.00Woman at Her Toilette
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00Paule Gobillard Peignant 1887
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00The Cradle 1872
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00l’Été 1879
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00Young Girl in a Ball Gown 1879
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00Autoportrait 1885
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Eugène Manet à L’île De Wight 1875
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00In a Villa at the Seaside 1874
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Après le déjeuner 1881 (After Lunch)
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00The Pink Dress 1870
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Eugène Manet et sa Fille Dans Le Jardin De Bougival 1881
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $329.00Lady with fan, Portrait of Madame Marie Hubbard 1874
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $329.00Femme et enfant au balcon 1872
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00The Psyche mirror 1876
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Young Woman with a Straw Hat 1884
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Alice Gamby en Buste 1896
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Au Bal 1875
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Au bord du lac
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00Before the Mirror
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Devant la toilette 1894
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Dans le parc 1874
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $329.00Cousant dans le jardin
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Dans la véranda 1884
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Les Papillons
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $319.00Bois de Boulogne 1893
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Intérieur 1872
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $339.00Daydreaming 1877
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Angele Feeding Julie Manet
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Enfants à La Vasque 1886
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $329.00In the Bois de Boulogne
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00Jeune fille au chien
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Jeune fille au divan 1893
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00On the Terrace 1874
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Lucie Leon at the Piano
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00Portrait de Louise Riesener
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $309.00La Jatte de lait 1890
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00The Mozart Sonata 1874
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $319.00Woman and Child 1894
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00Young Woman Knitting 1883
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Young Woman Seated on a Sofa 1879
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Reading 1873
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $329.00Bergère couchée 1891
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $359.00Shepherdess Resting
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $359.00Reclining nude shepherdess 1891
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $319.00Rivière au Bois de Boulogne
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Tea
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00The Artist’s Daughter, Julie, with her Nanny 1884
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $319.00The Lesson in the Garden 1886
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Two Nymphs Embracing
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00Under the Orange Tree (Sous l’oranger) 1888
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00Woman with Child on a Boat
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00Young Lady on a Chaise Longue 1889
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Peasant Girl Among Tulips 1890
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Plage de Nice
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00After Luncheon
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Alice Gamby dans le salon 1890
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00Jeune Femme 1871
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Jeune fille dans un parc
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Jeune Fille Écrivant
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Jeune fille lisant
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00Femme à l’éventail
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Femme cousant (Woman Sewing) 1879
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Figure of a Woman
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $369.00Jeune Femme arrosant un arbuste 1876
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Julie Manet Playing the Violin in a White Dress
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00Julie Playing a Violin
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Girl on a Divan 1885
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Girl with a Parrot
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00In the Dining Room 1886
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Dans la salle à manger 1880
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Jeune Fille au Manteau Vert
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $309.00La Fleur aux cheveux 1893
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00Portrait of Mme Boursier and Her Daughter 1873
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $349.00The Coiffure
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $329.00The Mother and Sister of the Artist
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $339.00Petite fille à l’oiseau
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Woman in a Garden
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00Woman Wearing Gloves
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Young Girl with Cage 1885
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Young Girl with Hat 1892
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Portrait de Jeanne Pontillon
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00Portrait of a Woman
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00The Artist’s Daughter with a Parakeet 1890
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00The Artist’s Sister at a Window 1869
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00The Artist’s Sister Edma Seated in a Park 1864
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $329.00The Bath
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00The Black Finger Bandage
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $309.00Winter aka Woman with a Muff 1880
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Young Girl with Basket 1892
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00Fillette au Chapeau de Paille
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Fillettes à la fenêtre (Jeanne et Edma Bodeau) 1892
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00Girl in Rose Dress
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $329.00Jeanne Fourmanoir sur le lac 1892
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Jeune femme relevant ses cheveux 1894
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Julie Manet à la perruche 1890
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $309.00Julie Manet et sa Levrette Laërte 1893
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00