Lesson 2: The Impressionist Movement
Morisot and Cassatt
Berthe Morisot (1841-1895) was one of two famous women artists, along with Mary Cassatt, who showed their paintings with the group.
A close friend of Manet, Morisot was in all but one of the Impressionist Exhibitions. Her deft touch, loose line and the light tonality of her landscape works had a decisive influence on Monet, among others. Modern scholars now believe that she may have been largely responsible for lightening the palette of many artists. Perhaps what she did is to be expected; after all, she was related to the 18th century master of the light touch, Fragonard.
Here's a painting by Berthe Morisot called On the Balcony.
On the Balcony, Berthe Morisot, 1872.
Mary Cassatt was the best-known (and one of the very few) American members of the Impressionists. She showed her work in four exhibitions with the Impressionists and was also one of the first artists to make prints. Her work often utilizes geometric patterns and flat motifs, which reflected her interest in Japanese prints.
La Toilette, Mary Cassatt, c. 1891.
