At The Edge Of The Forest c. 1872

Berthe Morisot painted ‘At the Edge of the Forest’ using watercolor, a medium often associated with leisure and the domestic sphere. Watercolor’s fluid, translucent qualities lend themselves to capturing fleeting impressions, and Morisot skillfully exploits these in her depiction of light filtering through the trees. The paper itself becomes an active element, its whiteness suggesting the dappled sunlight on the women’s dresses and faces. Morisot’s choice of watercolor, traditionally seen as a 'feminine' medium, allowed her to explore the everyday lives of women with an intimate touch. The seemingly effortless strokes belie the skill required to control the flow of pigment, creating a sense of immediacy. Ultimately, Morisot challenges the hierarchy between 'high art' and 'craft' by elevating a humble material like watercolor to a medium of expressive power, capturing the beauty and complexity of women's lives in a rapidly changing world.