The name of Berthe Morisot is inextricably linked with the era of impressionism. The only woman in the circle of “outcasts”, a successful artist, muse, la femme fatale of her time ... Berthe Morisot managed to conquer the peaks of the picturesque Olympus for her short but vibrant life and leave her indelible mark in the history of painting forever.
Youth and first successes
The future artist was born on January 14, 1841 in a family of wealthy bourgeois. Both Berta herself and her sister Edma early began to show interest in painting. Probably, heredity played a role in the sisters' inclinations - they were the grand-nieces of Jean Nu Honore Fragonard.
French morals and social principles of that time did not encourage the girls' serious passion for painting. Of the two sisters, it was Berthe Morisot who became the professional artist.
Her biography contains many interesting facts about a meeting with the famous Barbizon Camille Corot. It was he who directly influenced her formation as an artist, taught techniques of mastery in transmitting the play of chiaroscuro, instilled a love of landscape painting and work in the open air.
Already in 23 years, the work of Berthe Morisot was shown at the Paris Salon. For six years, the canvases of the young artist were selected for the official expositions of the Academy of Fine Arts. It was a recognition of her talent by the highest artistic light of the time.
Muse of Eduard Manet
Impressionism, as a new direction in painting, became more and more popular. In 1686, a meeting takes place that turns around the entire fate and career of the artist. Berthe Morisot meets Eduard Manet, whose work she sincerely admires.
Between a girl and an artist a very peculiar romance is struck. He asks her to pose for his canvases, introduces him into the circle of impressionists and presents to his friends. Canvas “Bacon”, presented by Eduard Manet at the next Salon, secured Morizo’s reputation as a fatal woman.
However, as biographers note, the relationship between them always remained platonic and did not go beyond the decency of the time. Bert Morisot invariably came to the sessions for the “Balcony” accompanied by her mother, and Manet, despite her liberty of character, did not cross the line in relations with her. In all, 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
Impressionism, as a new trend in painting, turned out to be consonant with the tastes and moods of the artist. In 1874 she leaves the official Salon and adjoins the community of “rejected” impressionists. Thus, Berthe Morisot became the first and only female impressionist at that time.
The artist’s legacy has about 400 works. In addition to the free impressionistic style of writing, games with light, with the brightness of colors, her work is marked by special softness, lyricism. The portrait images created by her are particularly intimate, in the landscapes there is a slight haze inherited from the Koro 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 Edward Mana, she married his brother. It is difficult to assess the motives of this act. At that time, the artist was already 33 years old - an advanced age for that time.
Morisot's parents were distrustful and skeptical of Eugene Manet, however, insisted on the marriage of his daughter. A woman at that age should not have been left alone.
This union was successful. Eugene strongly supported his wife in her work and remained with her until her death in 1895.