Berthe Morisot 1872

This is Edouard Manet's etching, "Berthe Morisot," currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The portrait, rendered in stark black lines against a pale ground, immediately captures our attention with its study of light and shadow. Manet's use of hatching and cross-hatching gives form to Morisot's features. The contrast between the light falling on one side of her face and the deep shadow on the other creates an intense, almost sculptural, effect. This dramatic chiaroscuro not only defines her face but also imbues it with a sense of depth. The rapid, energetic lines suggest a fleeting moment, characteristic of impressionism, yet the rigorous construction of form through light and shadow is a testament to Manet's formal training. Ultimately, this print invites us to consider how Manet employs line and shadow to construct both a likeness and an aesthetic experience. The tension between the immediacy of the impressionistic stroke and the enduring qualities of form positions the work within a larger dialogue about representation and perception.