Berthe Morisot (in Black)
Original title: Berthe Morisot (in Black)
kurzbeschreibung
This is Berthe Morisot, the painter, as portrayed by Édouard Manet. The lithograph on chine collé was made between 1872 and 1874 and published in 1884 in its second state. It shows a seated woman in dark clothing with an elaborate headpiece.
Description
The seated figure fills nearly the entire sheet, positioned centrally. A tall black headdress sits on her hair, and she wears a dark coat with a scarf around her neck. Her gaze turns slightly to the left, her expression unmoved. Thin and heavier strokes alternate, as in a hand drawing. At the bottom is a printer's mark with publisher and place.
Context
Berthe Morisot, a key Impressionist painter and Manet's sister-in-law, modeled for him several times. During this period Manet was deeply engaged with printmaking. The sheet was published in 1884, a year after his death, by a publisher. Morisot belonged to the core of the Impressionist circle and was in constant exchange with Manet.
Impact
The sitter's calm, collected gaze immediately draws the viewer in. Fine, graduated lines carry the effect, while light and shadow are only gently set against each other; from this arises an intimate, pensive mood. The portrait is at once distinguished and reserved, as is characteristic of Manet's portraits.
Technique
The image was executed as a lithograph on chine collé, that is, on thin Japan paper mounted on a support board. The second of two states shows the final version with the printer's mark. This method allows both delicate, varied lines and soft tonal transitions, as are typical of Manet's printmaking.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)