Artwork
Julie Manet Holding a Cat
Julie Manet Holding a Cat is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Berthe Morisot. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1889, this drypoint print by Berthe Morisot portrays a young girl seated with two cats nestled in her lap. Executed on laid paper, the image captures an intimate domestic moment, rendered in the light, spontaneous manner characteristic of Morisot’s work within the Impressionist milieu.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is Julie Manet, Morisot’s daughter, shown in a simple robe with her hair pulled back. The presence of the calm cats emphasizes a quiet, everyday scene, reflecting the artist’s recurring interest in family life and the tender interactions between children and animals.
Technique & Style
Morist’s drypoint technique employs swift, sketch‑like lines that define the girl’s face and clothing, while areas of light shading suggest form without heavy detail. The etched lines on the textured laid paper convey a sense of immediacy, lending the composition a warm, lived‑in atmosphere typical of her impressionistic approach.
History & Provenance
Berthe Morisot, a central figure among the French Impressionists alongside Monet and Degas, produced this print during a prolific period of her career. The work remains part of the documented output that illustrates her contributions to printmaking, and it has been retained in collections that focus on late‑19th‑century French art.
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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.
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