Jeune Fille Écrivant 1891

Berthe Morisot created "Jeune Fille Écrivant" using oil on canvas, a conventional pairing. But her handling of the materials is anything but conventional. Notice the visible brushstrokes, energetically applied. This lends the painting an unfinished quality, a sense of immediacy. Rather than striving for a smooth, polished surface, Morisot embraced the inherent texture of the paint, building up layers of color that interact with one another. Look at how the blue of the young girl's dress is flecked with white and pink, creating a vibrant, shimmering effect. The artwork is made with a sensitivity to the tactile qualities of paint. The process captures a fleeting moment, and it invites us to appreciate the artist's hand and physical engagement with her materials. In Morisot's hands, the tradition of oil painting becomes a vehicle for capturing personal, modern experience.