The Duck

The Duck by Berthe Morisot French, 1841-1895, created in 1889, is an intimate example of the artist's engagement with printmaking late in her prolific career. Executed as a drypoint in black on cream laid paper, the work captures the spontaneity and sketch-like quality inherent to the medium. Drypoint, an intaglio technique where a sharp needle scratches directly into the copper plate, produces a delicate, burred line, lending a characteristic softness and velvety texture to the resulting prints. This technique perfectly suited Morisot’s Impressionist sensibility, allowing her to emphasize atmosphere and quick observation rather than strict outline.

As one of the leading figures of French Impressionism, Morisot, 1841-1895, typically focused on domestic life and subtle nature studies, themes she translated effectively into the graphic arts. Though renowned for her oil paintings, her few prints, such as this 1889 drypoint, demonstrate a masterful command of line and shadow, retaining the essential lightness of her paintings while utilizing the monochromatic starkness of the print medium.

The intimate scale and subject matter of the lone animal place this piece firmly within Morisot's signature oeuvre. It stands as a fine representation of the refinement found in French graphic arts toward the end of the 19th century. Today, due to its age and cultural significance, this image is frequently found among high-quality public domain collections, ensuring wide appreciation of Morisot's contributions to prints. This important classification print is held within the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.