Berthe Morisot

Morisot captured her daughter, Julie, as she peered at a snowy landscape from a bedroom in their Paris home. The glint of a brass knob at top left suggests the window is ajar, while diagonal brushstrokes at lower left mimic a breeze that rustles the curtains and lifts the ties of Julie's apron. Spiraling and slashing marks animate the setting, creating a sense of movement and immediacy.

The subject appears quickly drawn, but Morisot worked deliberately and sought the same effects of gesture and transparency whether employing pastel, watercolor, or oil. She often proceeded without preliminary sketches, painting with fluid and abbreviated strokes and choosing not to completely cover the primed white canvas.

Morisot captured her daughter, Julie, as she peered at a snowy landscape from a bedroom in their Paris home. The glint of a brass knob at top left suggests the window is ajar, while diagonal lavender brushstrokes below mimic a breeze that rustles the curtains and lifts the ties of Julie’s apron. Spiraling and slashing marks animate the setting, creating a sense of movement and immediacy.

While the subject appears quickly drawn, Morisot worked deliberately, seeking the same effects of gesture and transparency whether employing pastel, watercolor, or oil. She often proceeded without preliminary sketches, painting with fluid and abbreviated strokes without completely covering the white canvas.