Goose

Goose is a refined print created by Berthe Morisot in 1889. This work utilizes the drypoint technique executed on wove paper. Drypoint, an intaglio printmaking method, involves scratching lines directly onto a metal plate, resulting in a characteristic soft, burred edge that lends itself perfectly to Morisot’s spontaneous, light-filled style. The medium allowed the Impressionist master to explore linear expression and texture outside of her well-known oil and watercolor practices.

As a central figure in the Impressionist movement, Morisot frequently focused on intimate, often domestic scenes, and studies of nature in her later career. The composition centers entirely on the single titular subject, which is rendered with the quick, energetic lines typical of the sketch aesthetic often favored by the Impressionists. The depiction of the goose allowed Morisot to explore movement and light in non-human subjects, capturing the posture and texture of the bird effectively without resorting to heavy outline or detailed finish.

Morisot’s foray into prints, particularly drypoint, demonstrates her commitment to technical experimentation during the late 1880s. The artist created a relatively small corpus of prints, making studies like this highly significant for understanding the breadth of her artistic output. This particular impression of Goose is part of the extensive collection of prints and drawings held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Due to the age and established significance of the work, high-quality images of this print are often available within public domain archives, ensuring the continued study of Morisot’s diverse contributions to modern art.