Boulogne Wood 

Berthe Morisot made this evocative watercolor painting, "Boulogne Wood," using pigments that, even in her time, were widely accessible. But don't let the apparent simplicity fool you. Morisot masterfully exploits the fluid, translucent nature of watercolor to capture the fleeting qualities of light filtering through the trees. The thin washes of color create depth and atmosphere, while the visible brushstrokes convey a sense of immediacy. What’s interesting is that Morisot had to build up this image stroke by stroke, like a craftsman honing their skills through repetition. It is a slow and deliberate process, even though the end result feels so spontaneous. She deliberately leaves areas of the paper untouched, allowing the white ground to contribute to the overall luminosity of the scene. Considering the ease with which the artwork could be produced, and the accessibility of the materials, reminds us that the artistic value resides not just in the image itself, but the creative processes that have shaped it.