Carriage in the Bois de Boulogne 1889

Berthe Morisot rendered this watercolor painting of a carriage in the Bois de Boulogne with fluid brushstrokes. The horse and carriage, once symbols of status and progress, carry a lineage from triumphal chariots of antiquity to Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage. They echo the mythic tales of swift passage and transformation. The shadowy woods that surround the carriage speak to a deeper emotional landscape. Trees, standing as silent witnesses, have long been associated with both the sacred groves of ancient rituals and the dark forests of fairy tales, creating a contrast with the status of the carriage, and bringing uncertainty and darkness. The forest, like our subconscious, is a realm of hidden desires and repressed memories. The way Morisot captures this scene engages viewers on a subconscious level, drawing us into a dreamlike space where the boundary between reality and fantasy blurs. The carriage in this setting reminds us of the cyclical nature of symbols, how they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts, driven by the collective psyche.