Berthe Morisot: artist and model

There aren’t many works by female artists in the world’s galleries (although the Pompidou Centre in Paris has tried to address this with its current exhibition elles@centrepompidou). One exception is the impressionist painter Berthe Morisot who has works displayed in a number of major galleries including the Musee d’Orsay and Musee Marmottan in Paris. and the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

Her style is typical of the Impressionists. She uses bright colours and her works capture the essence of her subject,  rather than being photographic or academic. She tended to concentrate on domestic scenes, including paintings of her friends and family. “Le berceau” (see below) which is displayed in the Gare d’Orsay being a typical example. It prtrays her sister Edma and Edma’s baby daughter Blanche.

Le berceau (The Cradle) by Berthe Morisot

In my view she was a major artist despite the constraints placed upon her as a woman living in the 18th Century. Despite this she managed to balance being a wife and mother with producing some important works, contributing to all but one of the Impressionist exhibitions. Perhaps she could have achieved even more if she had lived in a more enlightened age. There is a good article about her life and work here.

There is another reason why you can’t help noticing Berthe Morisot during a visit tot he Musee Marmotan and the Gare d’Orsay – she appears in a number of major paintings by Manet.

"Le Balcon" by Manet

Here she is sitting at the front of the balcony

"Berthe Morisot à l'éventail" by Manet

and here she is, with her face hidden behind a fan.

"Berthe Morisot au bouquet de violettes" by Manet

This is probably his most well known painting of her.

Looking at these pictures I can understand why he took her as his subject so often. She was an attractive woman with a dark, mysterious beauty.  No wonder tongues wagged (and continue to wag) about his relationship with her! There is, however, no direct evidence to suggest that their relationship went beyond a close friendship.  She actually married his brother, Eugene, and they had a daughter Julie, who Berthe included in many of her works.  Julie’s diary was published as a book  – “Growing up with the Impressionists: the Diary of Julie Manet” which is an interestig read for anyone interested with the Impressionists and their world.

Growing Up with the Impressionists: The Diary of Julie Manet

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