HAPPY BIRTHDAY BERTHE MORISOT!!!
Born today in 1841, Morisot was destined to be a great painter. She started learning how to paint at a very young age, like most young girls during this time (one of her teachers was Camille Corot where she first learned about plein air painting). Her first big appearance was in the Salon de Paris at only the age of 23. Her work was shown regularly in the Salon ever since, including when the first Impressionist exhibition occurred in 1874.
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| Berthe Morisot, Reading with Green Umbrella, 1873, Cleveland Art Museum |
One of her good friends was Edouard Manet. Even though we are taught that Edouard Manet was considered the leader and Morisot the follower, they had a very equal relationship. They taught each other about various painting techniques, Morisot even pushed Manet to try plein air painting. Manet even gave Morisot an easel one Christmas! Later on Morisot married Manet's brother Eugene.
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| Berthe Morisot, Grain Field, 1875, Musee D'Orsay |
Style-wise Morisot started off using small brushstrokes to long showing a better sense of form. This began once Manet and other artists started experimenting with unprimed canvas. She often left the canvas showing around the borders in an unfinished manner. Morisot is known for her sense of space and depth through her limited color pallet.
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| Berthe Morisot, The Basket Chair, 1885, Museum of Fine Arts Houston |
Like Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot painted daily life and domestic life and portraits along with landscapes. Just like many female artists of her time, she is getting more recognition after her death than during her lifetime. So let's celebrate her accomplishments and presence in Art History that can never be replaced.
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| Berthe Morisot, In the Dining Room, 1886, National Gallery of Art Washington D.C. |
Want to read more about Mary Cassatt? Check out a previous post about her!!
More information about Berthe Morisot can be found here!
