Haying at Mezy 1891

Berthe Morisot’s “Haying at Mezy,” uses oil paint on canvas to depict a fleeting moment in the countryside. Unlike traditional, academic painting, which prized smooth surfaces and careful detail, Morisot embraces a more immediate, sketch-like approach. The visible brushstrokes and the way the colors blend suggest a focus on capturing light and atmosphere, rather than precise representation. In this painting, Morisot seems less interested in depicting the labor of haying itself, and more interested in the way the scene presents an opportunity for artistic expression. Consider the painting’s materiality - oil paint, commercially produced, readily available. This accessibility reflects the changing art world of the late 19th century, where artists increasingly worked outside the traditional patronage system, and the very direct application of the paint that bypasses any sense of hard labor. Morisot’s loose brushwork, while seemingly effortless, reflects a conscious choice to prioritize aesthetic experience over detailed depiction.