Artwork
Swan and Duck
Swan and Duck is a print by the Impressionist artist Berthe Morisot. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Swan and Duck is a drypoint print created by French Impressionist artist Berthe Morisot around 1878. This work is part of an unpublished suite of eight prints produced during her brief experimentation with printmaking, encouraged by her fellow Impressionists.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a serene scene of a swan and a duck swimming together in calm water, their forms distinguished by the swan's elongated neck and the duck's rounded body. The simple background emphasizes the gentle interaction between the two birds.
Technique & Style
Morisot employed the drypoint technique, scratching lines into a metal plate to achieve delicate, expressive marks. This method imbues the image with a light, airy quality, resembling quick pencil sketches and capturing the soft ripples in the water.
History & Provenance
The print was not published during Morisot's lifetime. The V&A's collection holds examples printed posthumously in 1921 by art dealer Ambroise Vollard, from plates likely intended for private or limited circulation.
Context
While primarily a painter, Morisot's foray into printmaking around 1878 resulted in this and seven other drypoint prints. Unlike some of her other prints, which were direct translations of her paintings, the origins of 'Swan and Duck' are not specified as being based on a prior oil work.
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.
