Artwork
Woman at Her Toilette

Woman at Her Toilette is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Berthe Morisot. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
Woman at Her Toilette is an oil-on-canvas painting created by Berthe Morisot between 1875 and 1880. It is now part of the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a woman seated in front of a mirror with her back to the viewer, engaged in personal grooming. This theme was a recurring one in Morisot's work, focusing on intimate moments of women's daily routines.
Technique & Style
Morisot employed a soft color palette and loose brushstrokes to convey intimacy and quiet contemplation. The composition suggests a private, reflective moment, characterized by the subject's pose and expression.
History & Provenance
First exhibited at the fifth Impressionist exhibition in 1880, alongside works by Cézanne, Renoir, and Pissarro, the painting is also known as Lady at her Toilet.
Context
Part of a broader Impressionist movement, the work reflects the era's interest in capturing modern life's everyday, intimate moments, particularly those of women's private lives.
Legacy
As one of Morisot's works on the theme of women's personal moments, it contributes to her legacy of portraying the quieter aspects of female life in the late 19th century.
Own this work as a print
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.



















