In the late 19th century, several female French painters left their mark on the Impressionist movement with their talent and artistic vision. Long overlooked, they are now rightfully being brought back in the limelight.
Whenever Impressionists come up in conversation, you might picture male figures such as Claude Monet and Edgar Degas. This overlooks the many women artists who also played a crucial role in this movement. In the face of obstacles and prejudice, these painters were able to impose their artistic vision and enrich the Impressionist movement with their unique perspectives.
Jagoanblog.art
lets you (re)discover four of these remarkable women.
Are you passionate about art? Here are some articles you might find interesting:
- The most beautiful Impressionist paintings in the world
- 8 places that shaped Frida Kahlo’s life, to follow in the footsteps of the Mexican artist
- The 10 most famous paintings in the world
Berthe Morisot
Berthe Morisot (1841-1895) was one of the most emblematic figures of the Impressionist movement. Born into a middle-class family, she received a through education in the arts and became a pupil of Camille Corot. She quickly adopted the
plein-air
painting technique characteristic of the Impressionist movement.
The French artist took part in the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874 and kept working within the group throughout her career.
Like her friend Mary Cassatt
, her works capture scenes of everyday life, often featuring women and children.
Where can you see her work?
The Cradle
at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris,
Summer’s Day
at the National Gallery in London, and
The Mother and Sister of the Artists
at the
National Gallery of Art in Washington
.
Eva Gonzalès
Born in 1849, Eva Gonzalès was a French painter from a bourgeois Monaco family of Spanish origin. She was a pupil of and muse to Édouard Manet. Although long associated with Impressionism, she developed a style that blended her mentor’s influence with her own sensibilities.
Unlike Berthe Morisot, she held regular exhibitions at the official Salon, preferring this route to independent Impressionist exhibitions. Her most famous paintings are
Pink Morning
(1874),
The Milliner
(1877) and
Box at the Théâtre des Italiens
(1874).
She died aged 34 from childbirth issues in 1883.
Where can you see her work?
Go to the National Gallery of Art in Washington to see
Nanny with a Child
, or to the
Musée d’Orsay in Paris
to admire
Box at the Théâtre des Italiens
and
Pink Morning.
Marie Bracquemond
Far less famous than Berthe Morisot or Mary Cassatt, Marie Bracquemond (1840-1916) is one of the
few
women known to have been part of the Impressionist movement
. She initially worked as a self-taught artist alongside Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. From 1859 onwards, she held reglar exhibitions at the Salon, and in 1879, 1880 and 1886, she took participated in the Impressionists’ exhibitions.
During these years, she developed a style characterised by elegant compositions and bold use of colour. But in 1890, she suddenly stopped painting. Her husband, Félix Bracquemond, a painter, engraver and ceramist, disapproved of her Impressionist tendencies.
Where can you see her work?
On the Terrace at Sèvres
is at the
Artizon Museum in Tokyo
, while
The Lady in White
is at the Musée d’Orsay, and
Afternoon Tea
at the Petit Palais in Paris.
Blanche Hoschedé-Monet
Blanche Hoschedé-Monet (1865-1947) was Claude Monet’s daughter-in-law and pupil. When Monet married her mother, the young girl painted at his side in his house in Giverny. She was greatly influenced by his style, so much so that her own style is sometimes difficult to parse from Claude Monet’s. Over time, she developed a softer, more personal style.
Like Claude Monet, she had a passion for landscapes and gardens. Her paintings depict peaceful views of the Normandy countryside and flower-filled avenues. She was one of the few women to practice outdoor painting so consistently.
After the death of her husband Jean Monet (Claude’s son), she kept on painting and managing her father-in-law’s artistic legacy, helping to preserve Giverny and his garden. Her work, long overshadowed by Claude Monet’s fame, is now back in the limelight.
Where can you see her work?
There is a
Musée Blanche Hoschedé-Monet
in Vernon. In Paris, you can admire Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny at the Musée d’Orsay.