Young Woman in White (aka Isabelle Lemmonier) 1886

Berthe Morisot, a leading female Impressionist, captured “Young Woman in White (aka Isabelle Lemmonier)” in pastel. Morisot worked during a time when women artists faced significant challenges. They often lacked the same access to training and exhibition opportunities as their male counterparts. Despite these obstacles, Morisot established herself as a respected figure in the art world through her talent and determination. Here, Morisot's loose, delicate strokes capture Isabelle's intimate, pensive mood. It's as if we're catching a glimpse into a private moment of reverie. Morisot’s painting defies the traditional representation of women which often portrayed them as objects of male desire. Instead, she presents a modern, independent young woman with her own thoughts and emotions. The gaze is inward, the presentation is personal, and the entire picture plane has an emotional depth and complexity. Morisot once said, "I don't think there has ever been a man who treated a woman as an equal, and that's all I would have asked for, for I know I'm worth as much as they are." This piece is a soft, yet radical step towards that equality.