Artwork
At the Edge of the Forest (Edma and Jeanne)
At the Edge of the Forest (Edma and Jeanne) is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist Berthe Morisot. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Berthe Morisot’s 1872 oil painting At the Edge of the Forest (Edma and Jeanne) is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, D.C. The work presents a quiet outdoor scene in which two women are seated on a grassy verge bordering a wooded area, rendered in a subdued palette that emphasizes the surrounding foliage.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a pair of women dressed in light, white garments; the figure on the right is shaded by a dark hat, while her companion on the left is protected by a straw hat. Their relaxed posture and the gentle surrounding landscape suggest a moment of private leisure, inviting contemplation of the calm that can be found at nature’s margins.
Technique & Style
Morisot employs loose, fluid brushwork to convey the interplay of light and shadow across the meadow and trees. The muted greens of the background and the soft tonal transitions create an atmospheric effect, while the delicate handling of the figures’ dresses and hats highlights her interest in capturing fleeting visual impressions rather than detailed realism.
History & Provenance
Executed in the early 1870s, the painting entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings after passing through private collections, though specific acquisition details remain limited. Its presence in the museum’s European paintings wing situates it among other works by Morisot’s contemporaries, illustrating her role within the broader development of French Impressionism.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Berthe Marie Pauline Morisot (French: ; 14 January 1841 – 2 March 1895) was a French painter, printmaker and a member of the circle of painters in Paris who became known as the Impressionists.
