Exhibition Recasts Morisot as Manet's Equal, Not Follower

2 days ago7 min read

The art world has long cast Berthe Morisot in a supporting role, a talented Impressionist perpetually in the shadow of her brother-in-law and mentor, Édouard Manet. A new exhibition, however, is decisively flipping that script, positioning Morisot not as a follower but as a formidable peer whose influence was reciprocal and whose vision was distinctly her own.This isn't some dry, academic revisionism; it's a vibrant, necessary correction that feels long overdue. By placing their works in dialogue, the show reveals how Morisot’s loose, airy brushwork and intimate domestic scenes—often featuring women in private moments—actually pushed the boundaries of modern painting.Manet, in turn, was demonstrably influenced by her approach, adopting a lighter palette and a more spontaneous technique in his later portraits of her. The exhibition argues that their relationship was a creative volley, a mutual exchange between equals that fueled the Impressionist movement.It challenges the patronizing narrative that has often diminished female artists by attributing their genius to male tutelage. Instead, we see Morisot for what she was: a pioneering force who captured the fleeting nuances of light and modern life with a revolutionary sensitivity that helped define an era. Her canvases, full of psychological depth and technical daring, demand to be seen on their own formidable terms, finally granting her a solo spotlight she has always deserved.

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#Édouard Manet

#Berthe Morisot

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#art history

#Impressionism

#feminist art

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