The Studio

Born in 1841 in Bourges, France, Morisot was encouraged in her love of art by her father, a French official who had studied architecture. She frequently visited the Louvre to copy the paintings of the masters, a traditional method of studying art, and took private lessons together with her sister Edma. In the late 19th century, painting was considered a hobby for young ladies, not a profession, and it was unusual for women to exhibit their work. In fact, the École des Beaux-Arts, the national art school, was closed to female artists until 1897. When women were finally allowed to attend the school, they were excluded from the life-drawing classes because the nudity of the models was deemed unsuitable. Women and children were considered proper subjects for female artists.

Morisot had a successful artistic career. Although a founding member of the impressionist group, she exhibited several paintings at the Salon. She studied under many established painters, such as Camille Corot (1796-1875) and Henri Fantin-Latour (1836-1904). While Edma devoted herself to her family, Berthe balanced her art career with her family life, achieving more professional success than most 19th-century women could hope for.

Vivian Kung and Patricia Richmond
Teacher Resource Center
Department of Education and Public Programs

© 1997 The Cleveland Museum of Art