Artwork
Young Girl with an Apron
Young Girl with an Apron is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Berthe Morisot. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Berthe Morisot, a French painter and printmaker, created Young Girl with an Apron in 1891. This oil on canvas work is a portrait, capturing a young girl within a domestic setting. As a key figure in the Impressionist movement, Morisot consistently explored themes of everyday life and female experience, often depicting family members and intimate interiors with a distinctive light touch.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a young girl seated, her hands casually placed in the pockets of a white apron worn over a dark shirt. She looks towards the left, her gaze suggesting a moment of quiet contemplation or observation. Behind her, a table with a vase of flowers and a subtly rendered background, possibly a window or curtain, establish an intimate, everyday environment.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, Young Girl with an Apron demonstrates Morisot's characteristic Impressionist style. The brushwork likely conveys a sense of spontaneity and captures the play of light and color, rather than precise detail. This approach aligns with both Impressionism's focus on fleeting moments and Realism's commitment to depicting ordinary subjects without idealization.
History & Provenance
Berthe Morisot was a foundational member of the Impressionist group, exhibiting her work alongside artists such as Claude Monet and Edgar Degas from the movement's inception. Prior to these independent shows, her art was accepted by the prestigious Paris Salon. This painting, created in 1891, reflects her continued dedication to the Impressionist aesthetic late in her career.
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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.
