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← Berthe Morisot Berthe Morisot — Seated Nude Seen from Behind

Seated Nude Seen from Behind

Original title: Seated Nude Seen from Behind

Artist
Berthe Morisot
Date
1889
Medium
Drypoint on wove paper
Dimensions
sheet: 14 x 10 15/16 in. (35.5 x 27.8 cm) plate: 5 7/16 x 4 5/16 in. (13.8 x 10.9 cm)
Credit line
Purchase, Rogers Fund and Jacob H. Schiff Bequest, 1922

kurzbeschreibung

Berthe Morisot made this drypoint, Sitzender Akt von hinten gesehen, in 1889. It shows a woman seen from behind, and the print on wove paper comes from an edition of 25.

Description

A seated woman, her back to us, turns slightly to the right. Her arms are folded in front of her body, and a headscarf covers her head. Black and white tones dominate; the figure is rendered clearly and with precise detail. The arrangement stays simple and focuses entirely on the sitter. At the bottom of the sheet appear the signature 'B.M.' and the number '7/25'.

Context

Berthe Morisot is counted among the important French Impressionists. In 1889, the year of this etching, she devoted herself more intensively to depicting the female body. The work was created as part of a series of 25 impressions, indicating a limited edition.

Impact

Clear lines and a calm, intimate mood define the sheet. The pared-down layout draws attention to the pose and the texture of the skin, which gains volume through delicate shading. Realistic precision and Impressionist lightness come together.

Technique

This work is a drypoint, a form of intaglio printing. The lines are scratched directly into the plate, producing slightly blurred contours with a velvety effect. It was printed on wove paper, whose fine texture brings out the details of the drawing.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)