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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.
Read moreShowing 101–198 of 198 results
Julie rêveuse
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00La cruche d’eau 1893
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00La Petite Niçoise (The Little Girl from Nice) 1889
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Le Cerisier 1891
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $369.00Le Corsage Noir 1878
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Les Capucines
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Paule Gobillard dessinant
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Portrait de Blanche Pontillon 1877
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Portrait of a Child 1894
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Sur la Plage à Portrieux
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00The Shuttlecock 1888
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Two Girls 1894
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Young Girl Holding a Basket 1891
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $369.00Young Girl with an Apron 1891
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Baigneuse 1891
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Nu de dos 1885
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Playing in the Sand
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00Fillette portant un panier 1888
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00Jeune fille remettant son patin 1893
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00Jeune fille à l’ombrelle 1893
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Paule Gobillard en robe de bal 1887
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Child with a Red Apron 1886
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Fillette Au Jersey Bleu 1886
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Julie Manet écoutant, étude pour “Le piano” 1888
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $309.00Ritratto di signora
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00On the Balcony
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Girl Putting on her Stockings
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00The Artist’s Sister, Edma, with Her Daughter, Jeanne 1872
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Banks of the Seine 1883
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $249.00Maisons sous la neige
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $249.00Paysage 1882
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Les Poires 1891
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Forêt de Compiègne 1885
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Hanging the Laundry out to Dry 1875
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Hay in Bougival 1895
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Dans les blés
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $309.00The port of Nice 1882
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Parc de Fontainebleau
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Girl in a Boat with Geese 1889
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $249.00Fall Colors in the Bois de Boulogne
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Paysage
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $329.00Le Bois Du Mesnil
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Le Jardin à Bougival 1884
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Le pont sur l’Oise 1876
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Roses Trémières 1884
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $249.00Vieux chemin à Auvers
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Woman in the garden (Villa Arnulphi in Nice) 1882
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Poupée dans la véranda 1884
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $249.00Willows in the Garden at Bougival
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $249.00A Corner of Paris, View towards Passy
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Wooded Landscape
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Vaches en Normandie
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00La Jetée 1875
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $389.00On The Beach (Sur La Plage) 1873
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $379.00On the Beach at Fécamp 1874
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00Plage de la Comtesse dans la brume 1894
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00Vue d’Angleterre or Dans l’Ile de Wight 1875
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00Marine en Angleterre 1875
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $309.00L’Oise à Maurecourt 1876
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $339.00Boats on the River Seine 1879
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $359.00Le bateau à vapeur 1875
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00Ships in the Harbor 1875
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00Le Port de Lorient 1871
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00The Front of a Yacht 1875
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Boat on the Quay 1875
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Boats (Entry of the Midina to the Isle of Wight)
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $239.00The Thames 1875
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Bateau illuminé 1889
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Bateaux en construction 1874
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Bateaux à quai 1886
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00The Port of Nice
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Pomme coupée et pichet
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00Soup Tureen and Apple 1877
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00The Cage
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Roses
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Anémones roses
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00Daffodils
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Peonies 1869
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Vase with Anemones and Bag of Candy 1891
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $299.00White Flowers in a Bowl 1885
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Dahlias 1876
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Overturned Basket
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00The Harbor at Cherbourg 1871
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00At the Edge of the Forest (Edma and Jeanne) 1872
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Dans le pommier
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $289.00A Child In The Rosebeds
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $249.00Faneuse 1888
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $249.00Fillette dans le jardin 1887
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00The Basket Chair 1882
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00A Woman and Child in a Garden
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Jeune femme se levant 1886
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $239.00Berthe Morisot et sa fille devant une fenêtre 1887
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $279.00Baigneuse en Chemise
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Danseuse de corde 1886
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Petite fille aux cheveux blonds 1881
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00A Woman Seated at a Bench on the Avenue du Bois 1885
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $259.00Harbor in the port of Fecamp
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $269.00Le Flageolet 1890
By Berthe MorisotSizes starting at $329.00