Berthe Morisot. The path of the artist

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Berthe Morisot. The path of the artist
Berthe Morisot. The path of the artist

Video: Berthe Morisot. The path of the artist

Video: Berthe Morisot. The path of the artist
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The name of Berthe Morisot is inextricably linked with the era of impressionism. The only woman in the circle of "outcasts", a successful artist, a muse, la femme fatale of her time… Berthe Morisot, in her short but bright life, managed to conquer the peaks of the picturesque Olympus and forever leave her indelible mark on the history of painting.

berta morisot
berta morisot

Youth and first successes

The future artist was born on January 14, 1841 in a we althy bourgeois family. Both Berta herself and her sister Edma began to show an early interest in painting. Perhaps heredity played a role in the inclinations of the sisters - they were grandnieces of Jean Honore Fragonard.

French manners and social principles of that time did not encourage girls to be seriously interested in painting. Of the two sisters, it was Berthe Morisot who became a professional artist.

Her biography contains many interesting facts about the meeting with the famous Barbizon Camille Corot. It was he who had a direct influence on her development as an artist, taught the techniques of mastery in the transfer of the game of chiaroscuro, instilled a love for landscapepainting and plein air work.

Already at the age of 23 Berthe Morisot's works were shown at the Paris Salon. For six years, the paintings of the young artist were selected for the official exhibitions of the Academy of Fine Arts. It was the recognition of her talent by the highest artistic light of that time.

Muse of Edouard Manet

berta morisot paintings
berta morisot paintings

Impressionism, as a new direction in painting, became more and more popular. In 1686, a meeting takes place that turns the entire future fate and career of the artist. Berthe Morisot meets Edouard Manet, whose work she sincerely admires.

A very peculiar romance begins between the girl and the artist. He asks her to pose for his canvases, introduces her to the Impressionist circle and introduces her to his friends. The canvas "Bacon", presented by Edouard Manet at the next Salon, cemented Morisot's reputation as a femme fatale.

However, as biographers note, the relationship between them has always remained platonic and did not go beyond the limits of decency of that time. Berthe Morisot invariably came to the sessions for Balcony accompanied by her mother, and Manet, despite the freedom of character, did not cross the line in relations with her. In total, he captured her on 16 of his canvases, leaving her image in history as a slightly sad, melancholy, but invariably beautiful woman.

Berthe Morisot: paintings and experiments

Berta Morisot biography
Berta Morisot biography

Impressionism, as a new trend in painting, turned out to be in tune with the tastes and moods of the artist. In 1874 she leavesofficial Salon and adjoins the community of "outcast" impressionists. Thus, Berthe Morisot became the first and only female impressionist at that time.

The legacy of the artist has about 400 works. In addition to the free impressionistic manner of writing, playing with light, with the brightness of colors, her works are marked by special softness and lyricism. The portrait images created by her are distinguished by their special intimacy, in the landscapes there is a slight haze inherited from the Corot style.

The first solo exhibition of Berthe Morisot took place only in 1892, three years before the death of the artist.

Late marriage

Despite the tender and passionate feelings that Berthe Morisot had for Edouard Manet, she married his brother. It is difficult to assess the motives for this act. At that time, the artist was already 33 years old - an advanced age for that time.

Morisot's parents treated Eugene Manet with distrust and skepticism, however, they insisted on the marriage of their daughter. A woman of that age shouldn't have been left alone.

This union turned out to be successful. Eugene strongly supported his wife in her work and remained with her until her death in 1895.

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