Portrait of Berthe Morisot and Her Daughter (Berthe Morisot) - Berthe Morisot

A portrait of Berthe Morisot and her daughter, Julie Manet, rendered in the loose, expressive brushwork typical of Impressionism. The warm colour palette and informal composition create a sense of intimacy.

Berthe Morisot (1841-1895) was a French painter and a member of the circle of painters in Paris who became known as the Impressionists. She was described by Gustave Geffroy in 1894 as one of "les trois grandes dames" of Impressionism alongside Marie Bracquemond and Mary Cassatt. Morisot was independently wealthy and she exhibited in the Salon de Paris from 1864 to 1874. Influenced by Édouard Manet, she broke away from academic tradition and joined the Impressionists, exhibiting with them in 1874. Morisot married Manet's brother, Eugène, in 1874 and had one daughter, Julie. This oil on canvas depicts Morisot with her daughter, Julie Manet. The painting is executed with loose, visible brushstrokes characteristic of Impressionism. The colour palette is dominated by warm yellows and browns, with touches of blue and white to create highlights and shadows. Morisot is depicted in the foreground, gazing directly at the viewer, while her daughter is shown in the background, slightly out of focus. The composition is informal, capturing a candid moment between mother and child. The work conveys a sense of intimacy and domesticity, typical themes explored by Morisot in her paintings.