Berthe Morisot

Date of Birth: January 14, 1841

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: March 2, 1895

Biography

Berthe Morisot was a pioneering French Impressionist painter, born on January 14, 1841, in Bourges, France. She was one of the few female artists to have her work exhibited alongside the likes of Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Morisot’s early training began under the guidance of her mother, who recognized her artistic talent. She later studied under Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, who influenced her shift toward plein air painting. Morisot’s work is characterized by its light color palette and loose brushwork, often portraying domestic life and intimate scenes of women and children. Her ability to capture subtle light effects and the essence of her subjects earned her a distinguished place in the Impressionist movement. Despite the challenges faced by women in the art world at the time, Morisot achieved considerable success and critical acclaim. She married Eugène Manet, the brother of her friend and fellow artist Édouard Manet, in 1874. The couple had one daughter, Julie Manet, who became a frequent subject in Morisot’s paintings. Berthe Morisot continued to paint and exhibit her work until her untimely death on March 2, 1895, in Paris, France. Her contributions to the art world have since been recognized as groundbreaking, and she is celebrated as one of the most important female artists of the 19th century.

5 Interesting Facts about Berthe Morisot

1. Berthe Morisot was the first woman to join the French Impressionist movement.

2. She often painted members of her own family, including her daughter Julie and her sister Edma.

3. Morisot’s work was included in the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874.

4. She was one of the few female artists to achieve commercial success during her lifetime.

5. Morisot’s paintings are known for their delicate and light palette, which often focused on domestic scenes and the lives of women.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Berthe Morisot

1. “I don’t think there has ever been a man who treated a woman as an equal, and that’s all I would have asked for, because I know I’m worth as much as they.”

2. “Real painters understand with a brush in their hand.”

3. “It is important to express oneself… provided the feelings are real and are taken from your own experience.”

4. “I love painting. I have no other feeling when I work.”

5. “One can only be sure of what one paints.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Berthe Morisot’s highest net worth is not clearly documented, but her paintings have sold for millions of dollars posthumously. For example, her painting “Après le déjeuner” sold for $10.9 million at Christie’s in 2013.

Children

Berthe Morisot had one daughter, Julie Manet, born in 1878. Julie also became an artist and was often the subject of her mother’s paintings. After Morisot’s death, Julie Manet played a crucial role in preserving her mother’s legacy.