Portrait of a Woman

Berthe Morisot was a pioneering French painter and a founding member of the Impressionist movement. Known for her light-filled, intimate scenes of domestic life, women, and children, she brought a distinctly feminine perspective to the largely male-dominated world of 19th-century art. Trained privately due to restrictions on women in official art institutions, Morisot developed a bold, spontaneous style characterized by loose brushwork and a delicate palette. 

With her hands clasped over her knee, the woman appears to have just turned her head to meet the viewer’s gaze. Her relaxed pose and casual attire, along with her resemblance to the artist, suggest she may be Edma, the sister of Berthe Morisot. The Morisot sisters both received private art instruction, as women were barred from France’s state-run art academies until 1897. Of the two, only Berthe pursued a professional career in art. A central figure in the Impressionist movement, she was the only woman to exhibit in the legendary first Impressionist show of 1874.

Do you feel inspired by Berthe Morisot? Explore the world of Morisot and her peers; enjoy our French Impressionism Mega Online Course and check out her paintings in our Women Artists 50 Postcards Set.  :)

P.S. Today's artist was one the most talented Impressionists. Here's Berthe Morisot in 5 paintings!