Berthe Morisot
I truly love this painting by Berthe Morisot. It offers an intimate glimpse into the private world of a Parisienne—one of the fashionable urban women who embodied modernity in late 19th-century France. The woman is depicted at her vanity after a ball, still adorned with her earrings and a velvet ribbon at her neck as she lifts her hands to undo her chignon. Around her, Morisot’s light, feathery brushwork evokes the softness of a floral-patterned bedspread and wallpaper, lending the scene a sense of fleeting immediacy.
The same gauzy handling is applied to the mirror, which obscures the woman’s reflection and subtly subverts the traditional motif of the mirror as a symbol of feminine vanity. Instead of a clear self-regarding gaze, Morisot offers ambiguity. Her signature, placed discreetly along the lower edge of the mirror, adds an enigmatic note and invites speculation that the figure may serve as a proxy for the artist herself.
Faithful to the Impressionist principles she passionately embraced, Woman at Her Toilette seeks to convey the essence of modern life through suggestion rather than detail. Morisot participated in seven of the eight Impressionist exhibitions, and this painting was shown in the fifth exhibition of 1880, where her work received considerable acclaim. Alongside intimate domestic interiors, her artistic universe encompassed scenes of women and children, gardens, open fields, and seaside retreats.
Today, we begin celebrating Women's History Month. Presenting art by women artists is our mission, but we always use March to give this part of art history an even stronger focus. Enjoy! :)
P.S. This year, we’re also celebrating with a new collection dedicated entirely to women artists - we've just launched a brand new edition of postcards dedicated to women artists. This collection brings together well-known names and artists waiting to be rediscovered. Together with the previous set (which is now 15% off), we introduce you to 100 masterpieces by women artists and hundreds of years of creativity; a beautiful way to explore art history through the stories of women.
P.P.S. Here's the art of Berthe Morisot in 5 paintings! If you want to test your knowledge about women artists, it's time for a quiz: Can You Recognize These Self-Portraits by Women Artists?