Young Woman and Child, Avenue du Bois 1876

Berthe Morisot captured this scene of a young woman and child on canvas, a tender snapshot of bourgeois life in Paris. As one of the few female Impressionists, Morisot found herself navigating a world where women were often confined to domestic roles, yet she actively participated in the revolutionary art movement of her time. Here, we see a mother and child in the fashionable Avenue du Bois, depicted with the loose brushwork characteristic of Impressionism. However, Morisot goes beyond just aesthetics; she subtly challenges traditional representations of women. Instead of being depicted in passive domesticity, the woman is shown in a public space, perhaps suggesting a degree of independence and engagement with the world outside her home. There is a sense of intimacy and observation, reflecting Morisot’s delicate sensitivity to the world around her. In her own words, Morisot aimed to “capture something of the passing moment.” This work captures a transient instant, inviting us to reflect on the evolving roles of women in 19th-century society.