"Portrait of Berthe Morisot with a Fan" is a pivotal work created by Édouard Manet French, 1832-1883, in 1874. This delicate and intimate piece, formally classified as a painting by the collection, is executed in watercolor over traces of graphite on cream wove paper. Manet's fluid, almost spontaneous application of watercolor demonstrates a mastery of the demanding medium, capturing the subject's essence with a rapid energy characteristic of the era. The medium allows for the blending of tones and the suggestion of form, prioritizing immediacy over traditional academic finish.
The subject is the celebrated painter Berthe Morisot (1841-1895), who was Manet's sister-in-law, a close professional colleague, and his frequent model. Throughout the 1870s, Manet created numerous depictions of Morisot, exploring various poses and emotional registers, establishing her as one of the most recognizable faces within the Impressionist circle. This portrait, created in France, captures her in a moment of elegant contemplation, emphasizing the accessory of the fan, a fashionable detail that adds a subtle sense of mystery and movement to the composition. The swiftness of Manet's technique aligns perfectly with the tenets of Impressionism, a period focused on emphasizing light, atmosphere, and fleeting modern life over meticulously rendered detail.
Manet’s ability to imbue quick, informal studies with psychological depth and structural clarity makes this 1874 work highly significant within his oeuvre. The piece exemplifies the innovative approach to portraiture that defined the French avant-garde. This delicate watercolor is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a critical example of the interchange between drawing and painting during the period of Impressionism (c. 1860–1890s). As a celebrated work from this era, high-quality reproductions and fine art prints often circulate through various public domain initiatives, ensuring its continued study and global appreciation.
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