Women and Little Girls in a Natural Setting 

Berthe Morisot made this oil on canvas in France, sometime in the late 19th century. It shows two women and a young girl relaxing in a natural setting. Morisot was part of the Impressionist group who broke from the official Salon system that dictated artistic taste at the time. Impressionist painters like Morisot often depicted scenes of modern life and leisure, and they did so with loose brushstrokes. This painting seems to focus on the private sphere of women and children, a common subject for Morisot, but one that was often dismissed as less important than history painting or other traditionally masculine subjects. To understand Morisot’s work better, it helps to look at exhibition reviews, letters, and other documents that give us insight into the art world and social norms of her time. These sources show us the challenges and opportunities that faced women artists like Morisot. Ultimately, the meaning of her work lies in its historical context.