The Rest, portrait of Berthe Morisot 1870

Edouard Manet painted “The Rest, portrait of Berthe Morisot” using oil on canvas, during a time when artistic and social conventions were being questioned. Morisot, also a painter, is seen here not in the act of creation but in repose. The painting challenges the traditional representation of women, who were often portrayed as either domestic figures or objects of desire. Manet captures Morisot's intelligence and artistic sensibility. In her position of rest, she seems to be contemplating the world around her, rather than merely existing within it. Her gaze, though soft, is direct and engaging. The looseness of Manet's brushstrokes adds an immediacy, suggesting a fleeting moment. Manet seems to want to convey the complexities of Morisot as both a woman and an artist, pushing against the restrictive roles assigned to women in 19th-century society. The act of portraying Morisot as an equal, an intellectual, and a fellow artist, speaks volumes about the shifting dynamics within their circle and the broader art world.