Artwork
At the Edge of the Forest (Edma and Jeanne)
At the Edge of the Forest (Edma and Jeanne) is a graphite drawing 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
Created circa 1872, *At the Edge of the Forest (Edma and Jeanne)* is a modestly sized drawing executed in watercolor and graphite on paper. The composition captures two women standing at the fringe of a wooded landscape, rendered with a light, atmospheric touch characteristic of the artist’s early work.
Subject & Meaning
The figures are identified as Edma Morisot, the painter’s sister, and a second woman, likely Jeanne, positioned beside her. Their quiet stance at the forest’s edge suggests an intimate, everyday encounter, emphasizing familial bonds and the simple pleasures of shared outdoor moments.
Technique & Style
Morisot employed a delicate watercolor wash combined with graphite line work, allowing translucent layers to suggest foliage while maintaining precise contours for the figures. The glazing technique creates a soft focus that blurs the background, directing attention to the subjects and evoking the fleeting quality prized by Impressionist sensibilities.
History & Provenance
Berthe Morisot, a French artist linked to the Impressionist circle, began showing at the Paris Salon in 1864 and participated in the inaugural Impressionist exhibition of 1874. This drawing belongs to the period when she was consolidating her personal visual language, prior to her more widely recognized oil paintings.
Context
The work reflects Morisot’s recurring interest in domestic and intimate scenes, often featuring women in natural settings. By situating her sister at the forest’s margin, she merges the private sphere with the broader landscape, a motif that aligns with contemporary explorations of light, atmosphere, and everyday life.
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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.
The Artist's Sister Edma Seated in a Park
The Artist's Sister Edma Seated in a Park
The Artist's Sister, Edma, with Her Daughter, Jeanne
Camille Monet und ihr Sohn Jean in Argenteuil
The Monet Family in Their Garden at Argenteuil
The Monet Family in Their Garden at Argenteuil
Madame Monet and Her Son
Reading in a Garden (Lettura in giardino)
Sewing near the Window
La Terrasse de la Villa Brancas
In the Garden
At the Edge of the Forest (Edma and Jeanne)