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Berthe Morisot: Capturing the Immediacy of Life, with Sensitivity and Grace
WhatsApp reports the arrival of a new message from the Italian who smokes Tuscan cigars. Open and read: “The life of the impressionist painter who will be the backdrop to our author’s journey, was a mix of art, personal relationships and commitment to the movement that would revolutionize painting. To visit the tomb of Berthe Morisot, the elegance of Impressionism, we will not have to go to the Père Lachaise cemetery, so we will meet in front of the Passy cemetery”. You know that the left-handed man loves to share the nuances of human creativity on the benches of Meeting Benches, so you will have to come prepared to meet him in Paris. “Born into a wealthy family,” reads the new travelogue dedicated to Morisot, “she enjoyed an environment that allowed her to cultivate her talent from a young age. Her artistic career was influenced by her relationship with Édouard Manet, who later became her brother-in-law, marrying her brother Eugène Manet. This bond not only enriched her personal life, but placed her directly at the center of the nascent Impressionist movement, where she assumed a central role.”
In front of the entrance to the Passy Cemetery – 16th arrondissement of Paris, on Rue du Commandant Schœlsing, in the Muette district, you glimpse the Eiffel Tower, but not your guide. To pass the time, you open your diary and write down the sensations of this moment. “Unlike the imposing entrance of Père Lachaise, this one is more discreet and quieter. No monumental portals or crowds of tourists, more like the entrance to a park or a well-kept public garden, with chestnut trees and a sense of calm. The tomb of Berthe Morisot, épouse d’Eugène Manet, is located in the 4th division of the cemetery. The inscription on the tombstone reflects the mentality of the time, which did not fully recognize women artists.” You turn the page of your travel journal and read a poem by Stéphane Mallarmé, a dear friend of Berthe Morisot. “The virgin, the lively and the beautiful today. Will he tear us away with a drunken flap of wings? This hard and forgotten lake, haunted by frost. The transparent glacier of flights that have not fled! A swan of a time remembers being him. Magnificent, but who frees himself without hope. For not having sung the region where to live. When boredom shone from the sterile winter. His whole neck will tremble in this white agony. For the space inflicted on the bird that denies him, but not for the horror of the land where the plumage is taken. Ghost assigned to this place by its pure splendor, he freezes in the cold dream of contempt that the Swan wears in the midst of a useless exile.” You first recognize the smell of his cigar, then you see him spread his arms, and you sense that the expression on the Italian’s face should help to forgive him. Knowing you’re magnanimous, you go to meet him and decree the death of his cigar, tossing that half “Toscano Antica Riserva” into a wastebasket. Your four intertwined hands seem to exchange the anticipation of something to share. He breaks the spell by telling you about the places connected to the life of a woman artist.
“Between Cities and Affections, her existence was divided between different places that shaped her art. From Bourges to Paris, where she lived in the neighborhoods of Passy and Rue de Villejust. Also important were her stays in Bougival, where the historic Maison Berthe Morisot is located, and in Mézy-sur-Seine, places that often inspired her works.” As you walk, surrounded by silence and in the shade of the chestnut trees, you learn from the left-handed man that family life was a fundamental pillar for Berthe Morisot. “Her parents and sisters, her husband Eugène Manet and her daughter Julie were recurring subjects and sources of inspiration.” You touch your guide’s right shoulder and add something to what you have learned. You want your walks in art to be on par. “Morisot also received teachings from Joseph Guichard and Camille Corot, who influenced her training.” Pleased that you are in tune with the theme of your authorial journey, he smiles and begins to talk about the world that revolved around Morisot. “Berthe moved in a lively circle of artists and intellectuals. In addition to Claude Monet, she met Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas and Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, Marie Bracquemond and Mary Cassatt, even Eva Gonzalès.”
“Do not expect a massive sculpture or an elaborate monument to her as an artist. Her tomb is typical of the period and the social position of the Manet family.” You look at the large family tomb, a place of great historical importance for the history of art, bringing together key figures of Impressionism. A touching and representative aspect of the era is the inscription on the tombstone regarding Berthe. “Berthe Morisot, épouse d’Eugène Manet,” you read. You consider that the inscription does not do full justice to her extraordinary career and her pioneering role as a world-famous artist. It is only when you are outside the cemetery that you realize that visiting Berthe Morisot’s tomb is an experience that goes beyond simple commemoration. You want to share your feeling with the left-handed person. “It is a way to reflect on her life, her talent and the challenges she faced as a female artist in a male-dominated era. The proximity of the tombs of Eugène and Édouard Manet underlines the deep ties that united these figures in private and artistic life, making this corner a small sanctuary of Impressionism.”
“We could be at Mokus l’Écureuil in seven minutes. Pizza, pasta and beef burgers. Would you prefer to eat in the wood-paneled dining room or on the large terrace?” You’re hungry, you accept the invitation and walk with him, leaving the Trocadero gardens behind you. “Dogs allowed,” you read at the entrance to that Italian restaurant. You ponder the left-hander’s choice, certain of the solidity of his bond with the border collie that has brought peace to his life. You choose a table facing the street, a Pizza Margherita and a Calzone. As he sips his Pinot Grigio, you wait for your Vittel water to be less cold and ask for Damaar. “In your art videos, I noticed images of your dog. I imagine you are continuing what you started in 2014.” You see him smile, take a box of Tuscans from his jacket, take one and slice it with a mini guillotine. “Our bond will never be broken. Daamar is waiting for me to make my last quarter mile, but he wants me to do the right thing.” Your guide seems to need a guide, so to help him out of his sadness, you open your diary and start reading him a poem. “Who is crying there, if not the simple wind, at this hour, alone, with extreme diamonds? But who is crying, so close to me in the moment of crying?” The Italian, smiling again, reaches out to close the diary, but you forestall him. “I hope I have been helpful to you by reading Paul Valéry, Berthe’s friend. Consider though that I am not the wind!” you emphasize, signaling the waiter to bring you the bill.
“Dark hair and eyes, pale complexion, slim and elegant figure. Based on descriptions and portraits, especially those of Édouard Manet, we can get a precise idea of Berthe Morisot’s physical appearance. In Manet’s portraits, her hair appears almost raven-black, creating a sharp contrast with her complexion. Her eyes were capable of expressing depth and intelligence. Manet seemed fascinated by Berthe Morisot’s eyes, by her face characterized by delicate and refined features. She was described as a woman of small build, slim and elegant. This physical grace of hers was also reflected in her painting.” You have finished eating, you walk towards the Canopy by Hilton Paris Eiffel Tower and you think the same things. Édouard Manet portrayed her on several occasions, and these portraits (such as “Berthe Morisot with a Bouquet of Violets“, “The Balcony“, or “Berthe Morisot with a Fan“), are the most immediate visual sources of her appearance. Those paintings not only capture her physical likeness, but also suggest her personality. You remain silent in the elevator. You think of the two rooms that await you. “An intelligent woman,” you say to the left-handed man, after bidding him good night, “serious and with a certain depth.”
“Good morning! Get ready for a day immersed in the world of Berthe Morisot. We will begin by visiting the Maison Berthe Morisot in Bougival, a museum entirely dedicated to her life and work. Imagine entering the spaces where she lived and created! Next, we will venture to Mézy-sur-Seine, a charming village where Morisot had a studio in an attic. A rare opportunity to appreciate the delicate brushwork and luminosity that define her unique style. It is here that she painted some of her evocative landscapes and her touching portraits of village children.” Who knows if you will truly experience the feeling of being immersed in the intimate settings that inspired Morisot’s art? A highlight of the day will be the opportunity to admire her famous painting, “Le Cerisier“, up close. Your immersion in art will not end today! Tomorrow, for the grand finale of your art weekend, you will return to Paris. You will have the incredible opportunity to visit both the Musée Marmottan Monet and the Musée d’Orsay, prestigious museums that house many of Morisot’s most iconic works, including the tender and unforgettable “The Cradle“.
“Berthe Morisot, known for her quick, loose, vibrant brushstrokes, was a distinctive and influential figure in Impressionism. She avoided a smooth, academic finish, allowing her brushwork to convey immediacy and spontaneity,” you confess to your guide. “Her works sometimes appear unfinished,” you add. He nods, adding, “Berthe used a light, luminous palette, focusing on natural light. Her ability to capture nuances of light, often with whites and shimmering pastels, is a hallmark. She often avoided hard edges, relying on the juxtaposition of colors to define forms.” You both admire her quick, light, floating brushstrokes that create a light, airy effect. Your weekend together culminates in a taxi to Charles de Gaulle Airport. “Berthe’s style is quintessential Impressionism!” you exclaim, excited for your future date with the left-handed man. “A luminous brilliance, loose brush strokes, and an incredible ability to capture the immediacy of life with sensitivity and grace.” Only after takeoff, as the landing gear retracts and your thoughts drift back to the weekdays, do you reflect on those final words: “Capture the immediacy of life, with sensitivity and grace.”
The cover image of this post, created by the artist Dastilige Nevante together with those of the video below, represents an immersive experience in which digital meets the delicacy of impressionism. You are about to embark on a visual journey through landscapes and portraits that, while maintaining the brightness and fragmented brush strokes typical of Berthe Morisot, are reinterpreted with clarity and chromatic depth by Nevante; his scenes evolve fluidly, almost like an artistic glitch that reveals layers of color and form, while maintaining the intimacy and spontaneity of impressionist works. “FLYING” by FiftySounds, which accompanies the visual experience, spreads sound textures that recall the complexity and stratification between digital images and impressionist oil painting.
