Le Petit Saint-Jean 1890

Berthe Morisot made this pastel drawing, Le Petit Saint-Jean, during the late 19th century, a period when artistic styles were rapidly evolving in France. The artwork depicts a young boy, loosely draped with a white cloth. Morisot was a key figure in the Impressionist movement, known for her delicate brushwork and intimate scenes of domestic life. During this period, there was a growing interest in capturing fleeting moments, and the realities of everyday life, rather than idealized historical or mythological subjects. The Paris Salon was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. It was a major cultural event and a showcase for officially sanctioned art. Impressionist painters like Morisot were at first systematically rejected by the Salon. As a woman, Morisot faced additional challenges in a male-dominated art world. Her choice of subject matter, focusing on domestic scenes, can be seen as both a reflection of her personal experience and a commentary on the limited roles prescribed to women in society. To fully appreciate Morisot's work, it is essential to study the cultural history of 19th-century France, to examine exhibition records, and to research the artist's biography.