Walk in the Boulogne Wood

Walk in the Boulogne Wood by Berthe Morisot is a delicate print created in 1889, near the height of the artist's mature career. This work is executed using the drypoint technique on laid paper, demonstrating Morisot's less-known yet significant engagement with printmaking. As a major figure in French Impressionism, Morisot typically utilized oil and pastel, but her smaller-scale graphic works often provided intimate and immediate studies of domestic life and familiar Parisian landscapes.

Created during the period spanning 1876 to 1900, this piece captures a moment of leisure in the Bois de Boulogne, a popular public park on the western edge of Paris. Morisot employs drypoint to achieve the sketchy, light quality characteristic of her style, using rapid, expressive lines to define the figures and the surrounding foliage. Drypoint involves directly scratching into a copper plate with a sharp needle; this action pushes aside material to create a burr which, when inked, softens the resulting line on the paper. This technique lends the composition an ephemeral, airy feel consistent with Impressionist tenets, emphasizing light and momentary observation. The distinct characteristics of these prints underscore the versatility of the artist across various mediums.

This graphic work illustrates Morisot’s characteristic focus on contemporary life and the shifting role of women in late nineteenth-century society, subjects the artist explored throughout her career. While focusing on observation rather than grand historical narrative, the composition provides important insight into the private Parisian world of the era. The technique is economical and swift, reinforcing the sense of an observed fleeting moment. Walk in the Boulogne Wood currently resides in the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to its age and cultural significance, this imagery is frequently referenced and is often included in collections designated as public domain, ensuring its continued availability for scholarship and public appreciation.