Before the Mirror 1890

Berthe Morisot’s “Before the Mirror” is an oil painting that captures a fleeting moment of intimate self-reflection. Morisot applied the paint with loose, visible brushstrokes, allowing the texture of the canvas to show through. These were commercially manufactured paints, available thanks to the rise of industrial chemistry. This speaks to the changing landscape of artistic production in the late 19th century, as artists were becoming less reliant on traditional methods of preparing their own materials. The sketchiness of Morisot's style contributes to the sense of immediacy, as if the viewer is catching a glimpse of a private moment. You can see the influence of Impressionism in her attention to light and color, particularly in the way she captures the soft glow of the mirror's reflection. This painting speaks to the social context of women's lives during this period, as personal adornment and self-presentation were central to their identity and role in society. Morisot’s work encourages us to reconsider the hierarchies between so-called high art and the everyday practices that shape our lives.