Impressionism

Lesson 4: Interpretations of Reality

Domesticity

One subject popular with some of the Impressionists, but often overlooked, is that of domestic family life. Women artists were the natural progenitors of these subjects since the strictures on well-bred women of their world in those times made cafe subjects or rugged landscape settings off-limits. Both Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt pushed against these limitations, while also documenting the life of their families.

Here's a painting called Hide and Seek that Berthe Morisot painted in 1873.



Interiors, boudoir scenes, and portraits were also done by two male artists, Edgar Degas and Pierre-August Renoir. Degas' bathing scenes, not always considered flattering to his models, are both beautiful and oddly removed, given the austere, taciturn nature of the artist.

Here's a painting called Women Ironing by Degas that shows his preoccupation with domestic themes.



Renoir, who had penchant for fleshy nudes painted in an almost classical manner, created very tender, almost sentimental, family scenes, portraits and festive gatherings. Check out The Bathers on page 49 in Impressionist Art - A Crash Course.

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