Who is Berthe Marie, Pauline Morisot?
Berthe Marie Pauline Morisot ( was a pioneering French painter and one of the leading figures of the Impressionist movement.
Berthe Morisot Childhood
Berthe Morisot was born to Edmé Tiburce Morisot and Marie-Joséphine-Cornélie Thomas in Bourges, France 1841. Her father worked as a senior administrator for the local government, and her mother was related to the Rococo painter Jean-Honore Fragonard. Morisot had two older sisters, Yves and Edma, and a younger brother, Tiburce. In 1852, the family moved to Paris, where she would live for the rest of her life.
Her family encouraged their daughters to take art lessons. However, they didn’t expect their daughter to make a career of what they hoped would be a hobby. Morisot showed an early talent for art and received formal training in painting from established artists.
Early Years
Berthe and Edma Morisot copied works by the Old Masters at the Louvre Museum in the late 1850s under the tutelage of Joseph Guichard. From 1862 to 1868, she worked under the guidance of Camille Corot. Edma married a naval officer sometime later and moved away to have children.
She first exhibited paintings at the Salon in 1864 at 23. Her work was exhibited there regularly through 1874,
In 1868, fellow artist Henri Fantin-Latour introduced Édouard Manet to Berthe, who would become her mentor, close friend, and eventually her brother-in-law. She later settled in Paris, where she associated with prominent artists. Manet painted Morisot 12 times, making her his most frequent subject.
1874, when she was 33 years old, she married Manet’s younger brother, Eugène, a writer and painter. Rumors of the time suggested that theirs was a marriage of convenience, as she couldn’t marry the older Manet, who was already married. Eugène was also an artist but agreed to give up his care to support and promote his wife entirely.
In 1878, Berthe and Eugène welcomed their daughter, Julie Manet, who became the primary subject of many of her mother’s paintings. Morisot consistently depicted her daughter and husband in her artwork. As a child, Julie posed for several other renowned painters, including Manet and Renoir.
Art Style
Morisot was known for her mastery of light, color, and brushwork, capturing everyday life with a fresh perspective. She often depicted intimate moments of domestic life, including portraits of women and children and outdoor scenes featuring gardens and landscapes. Her work demonstrated a keen sensitivity to atmosphere and emotion, and her loose, expressive brushstrokes exemplified the essence of Impressionism.
In the male-dominated art world of the 19th century, she, as a woman artist, faced numerous challenges and prejudices, such as portraying subjects like lounges, cafés, bars, and brothels. However, her paintings depicted various aspects of feminine life in the late 19th century, showcasing private and intimate moments typically inaccessible to her male counterparts. Despite these obstacles, she persevered and made significant strides in her art, challenging traditional conventions and pushing boundaries.
Morisot’s involvement in the Impressionist exhibitions, alongside male artists like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Edgar Degas, helped elevate her status and solidify her reputation as a talented painter. Her unique perspective as a woman artist brought a fresh sensibility to the Impressionist movement, offering a nuanced portrayal of female subjects and domestic scenes that resonated with audiences.
Her delicate touch and subtle use of color set her apart, earning her acclaim and recognition during her lifetime. Morisot’s contributions to the art world paved the way for future generations of women artists, inspiring them to pursue their creative passions and challenge societal norms.
Famous Art.
Berthe Morisot created a significant body of work during her career, with many paintings now held in prestigious art institutions worldwide. Some of her most well-known artworks include:
- “The Cradle” (1872) – This intimate and tender portrait of a mother and child encapsulates Morisot’s ability to capture everyday moments with sensitivity and grace. It is now housed in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France.
The Cradle is arguably Berthe Morisot’s most famous painting. It depicts Morisot’s sister, Edma, gazing down at her daughter, Blanche, asleep in a cradle behind a translucent veil. This relatively early work is the first example of Morisot’s treatment of the theme of motherhood, which would become a recurring subject in her work,
2. “Summer’s Day” (1879)—This painting depicts two elegantly dressed women in a garden, bathed in dappled sunlight. It is part of the National Gallery collection in London, United Kingdom.
3. “Eugène Manet on the Isle of Wight” (1875) is a portrait of her husband Eugène Manet. The painting showcases Morisot’s skill in capturing the essence of her subjects. The artwork is exhibited at the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris.
Morisot and Cassatt
One of Morisot’s notable contemporaries was Mary Cassatt, an American painter who played a significant role in the Impressionist movement. Cassatt and Morisot shared a similar interest in portraying intimate moments of daily life, particularly highlighting the experiences of women and children.
Their friendship and artistic collaboration enriched both of their works, setting an example of mutual support and camaraderie among women artists in a predominantly male art world.
Later Years.
Berthe Morisot was never commercially successful during her lifetime, yet she outsold Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Alfred Sisley. She was a woman of great culture and charm, and she counted among her close friends Stéphane Mallarmé, Edgar Degas, Charles Baudelaire, Émile Zola, Emmanuel Chabrier, Renoir, and Monet.
1891 Eugène Manet suffered poor health and finally died in Paris the following year. Three years later, their daughter Julie contracted pneumonia. Morisot nursed her back to health but caught the illness herself and eventually died on March 2, 1895.
After her death, the poet Paul Valery wrote that “Berthe Morisot’s uniqueness was to ‘live’ her painting and to paint her life […] she took up, put down, returned to her brush like a thought that comes to us, is clean forgotten, then occurs to us once again.“
Photo courtesy of Yves Rouart and Galerie Hopkins-Custot, Paris
Final Tought.
The story of Morisot and Manet’s intimate relationship leaves many gaps. It is recognized that he was the master and she, the student, and their art must have greatly benefited from their close friendship.
Even though Manet is a recognized famous painter and Morisot’s legacy is less known, her defiance of conventions, challenges to stereotypes, and reshaping of the artistic landscape of her time are noteworthy. She was a robust and encouraging influence on female Impressionist painters living in Paris at the time, such as Mary Cassatt and Eva Gonzalès.
Berthe Morisot’s artistic legacy serves as a wellspring of inspiration for artists of all genders. There is a resurgence of interest in her work among the public, who are rediscovering the depth and beauty of her artistic contributions. There is a resurgence of interest in her work among the public, who are rediscovering the depth and beauty of her artistic contributions.
I provided information based on general knowledge about Berthe Morisot, including widely known biographical details and her contributions to the Impressionist movement. Key references would include:
- Art history texts and biographies about Berthe Morisot and the Impressionists
- Museum collections such as the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the National Gallery in London, where some of Morisot’s most famous works are held
- Historical records of the Impressionist exhibitions and the artists involved in the movement, like Monet, Degas, and Renoir
- Academic sources on 19th-century French art and women artists’ roles in the Impressionist movement
Specific references for such details can be found in biographies like “Berthe Morisot: The First Lady of Impressionism” by Margaret Shennan, exhibition catalogues, and articles from established art institutions or historical resources on Impressionism.
