Artwork

Berthe Morisot with a Muff

Berthe Morisot with a Muff, by Edouard Manet, unspecified, 1872
Berthe Morisot with a Muff, by Edouard Manet, unspecified, 1872

Berthe Morisot with a Muff is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist Edouard Manet. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Look up *impasto* to see how thick, visible brushstrokes give paintings like this their texture.

A woman in a dark coat and feathered hat holds a fur muff close to her chest. Her face is pale, her gaze steady, almost challenging.

Manet painted this portrait of Berthe Morisot, another artist, around 1872. The loose brushstrokes and quick shadows look like her own style—maybe a quiet nod to her work. It’s one of two winter portraits he made of her.

Look up *impasto* to see how thick, visible brushstrokes give paintings like this their texture.

Overview

Berthe Morisot with a Muff is a portrait painting by Édouard Manet, created around 1872. It depicts the artist Berthe Morisot dressed in winter attire.

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows Morisot in a dark coat and feathered hat, holding a fur muff. Her pale face and steady gaze convey a sense of quiet confidence. The portrait is one of two Manet painted of Morisot in winter clothing.

Technique & Style

Manet's use of loose brushstrokes and impasto creates a textured, almost sketchy effect. The crosshatchings used to describe shadows add to this impression, echoing the style of Morisot's own paintings.

Context

The portrait reflects Morisot's identity as an artist, with Manet's technique paying homage to her own style. The painting is a representation of Morisot in a private moment, dressed for winter.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Edouard Manet

Artist

Edouard Manet

Édouard Manet didn’t have much time to make his mark—he died at 51—but he used every year.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.