Berthe Morisot

A detailed, illustrated look at the life and works of the most influential female Impressionist painter: Berthe Morisot. Berthe Morisot won over the Impressionists with her talent and became the first woman of the group alongside Monet, Degas, Renoir, Pissarro, and Sisley. Likewise, she was heralded by the greatest writers of her time; in this tribute to her, an anthology of citations from Paul Valéry, Stéphane Mallarmé, and Jean Cocteau offers an intimate portrait of the artist and her work. Morisots paintings demonstrate how far ahead of her time she was when she created them, pioneering a new style of painting. However, she was underestimated for more than a centurymost probably because she was a woman. This book showcases the life and works of this influential artist, focusing on the important stages of her career, including her first participation in the Salon de Paris at the age of twenty-three in 1864. Moreover, the book assesses the significance of the time certain paintings were created, taking into consideration what was happening in the artists life during that period. For example, in 1874 Berthe married Eugène, Manets brother, and gave birth to their daughter, Julie Manet, who became the subject of many of Morisots subsequent paintings. Berthe Morisot includes personal correspondence between Morisot and other important figures of the Impressionist movement, providing unique insight into this fascinating period. This book is an essential read for any lover of Berthe Morisots work, and indeed for anyone who appreciates the work of the Impressionist artists.

Jean-Dominique Rey, art historian and exhibition curator, has published numerous essays, memoirs, and books including Monet: Water Lilies (Flammarion, 2008). Sylvie Patry, curator at the Musée d’Orsay, organized two retrospective exhibitions on Morisot.