Impression, Morisot

Berthe Morisot was an impressionist painter who was also a pupil of Edouard Manet. Interestingly enough, her grandfather was the one and only Fragonard, an artist of the Rococo period. As one can tell, Morisot has had many artistic influences throughout her life and within her family.

Morisot was not always an impressionistic painter. She started off painting classically. After studying with Manet, she notably began using large amounts of paint in varying directions, creating an element of transparency. Details were overlooked if they proved to be insignificant. She was also interesting in the sense that she chose to paint unorthodox subjects at the time. She focused her work on everyday life, gardens, family, and friends. These key characteristics in technique are what separates her work from others.

Upon researching, I have found that Woman at Her Toilette is one of personal favourites. This is due to the masterful use of brushstrokes to mimic the texture of the dress. It creates a light and feathery effect that harmoniously compliments the muted pastel colour scheme. I love the blend of lavender, soft blues, gentle pinks, and greys. The fleshy colour of the face is also done really well. Also, the background definitely portrays a sense of movement with the brushstrokes, which is a common characteristic of Morisot’s world.

Sources: https://biography.yourdictionary.com/berthe-morisot

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-berthe-morisot-brought-radically-feminine-perspective-impressionism