Swan and Duck, with Portraits of Julie
Original title: Swan and Duck, with Portraits of Julie
kurzbeschreibung
Berthe Morisot's 1889 drypoint, Schwan und Ente, mit Porträts von Julie, combines a water scene of swans and ducks with two portrait heads. Printed on wove paper, the sheet brings together animal observation and personal portraiture.
Description
Two swans and several ducks swim on the left side, while two portraits of people without recognizable faces appear on the right. The layout runs horizontally. Gray tones dominate the view, produced by the drypoint technique. The light feels even, without harsh contrasts. Flowing lines suggest the movement of water and give the realistic subject an impressionistic touch.
Context
In 1889, Berthe Morisot focused closely on portraits of her daughter Julie. This etching belongs to her printmaking work, which she expanded during the 1880s. Morisot was a central figure of Impressionism and connected to the circle of Édouard Manet. The subject links her private sphere—the portraits of her daughter—with an observation of nature, as is characteristic of her oeuvre.
Impact
Soft gray tones and the restrained arrangement of the motifs create a calm, almost intimate mood. Animal depiction and portraits side by side feel surreal and invite reflection. The delicate linework gives the sheet a fragile elegance.
Technique
In this drypoint, lines are scratched directly into the copper plate. The process yields soft, slightly blurred lines with a velvety effect. The paper measures 27.7 x 34.7 cm, larger than the plate of 11.9 x 14.8 cm, indicating a wide margin.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)