Impressionist Women: Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, and Marie Bracquemond

by Lisa Michaux, Tastemaker in Residence

Impressionist Women: Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, and Marie Bracquemond

In honor of Women’s History Month, I wanted to write just a little bit about some artists that were instrumental to the Impressionist movement, and who also just happen to be women ;)

Berthe Morisot, Self-Portrait, 1895 (Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris)

Berthe Morisot (1841-1895) was one of the founding members of the Impressionist group and was relentless in her dedication to their exhibitions—showing work in 7 of the 8 exhibits. She took a year off only when she gave birth to her daughter. Morisot was celebrated for her supreme ability to capture fleeting moments of light and movement—the spontaneity and liveliness of her works are incredible. Her family championed her artistic vision and her parents built a studio at their home for Berthe and her sister Edme to study painting.

In 1874, Edgar Degas wrote to Morisot’s mother requesting Berthe’s involvement in the group show he was organizing saying “We consider that Miss Berthe Morisot’s name and talent are too important to us to do without.” Morisot joined forces with Degas, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Auguste Renoir, and Alfred Sisley and the six artists constituted the committee that planned the inaugural independent exhibition that we now refer to as the first Impressionist exhibition. 

Mary Cassatt, Portrait of the Artist, 1878 (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

It was Degas who also brought the American artist Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) into the Impressionist group. Cassatt was from a wealthy Philadelphia family and settled in Paris permanently in 1872. Cassatt and Degas were both dedicated and disciplined artists and Degas would often go with Mary and her sister Lydia to fashionable soirées, art galleries, and the Louvre. Degas realized that Cassatt would bring much to the group exhibitions and when he invited her to exhibit, she was overjoyed. 

Cassatt played a major role in the Impressionist exhibitions and also as a tastemaker and art advisor to wealthy Americans. Because of her influence, major Impressionist collections are now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 

Marie Bracquemond, On the Terrace at Sèvres (the Terrace of the Villa Brancas), 1880 (Petit Palais, Geneva)

Marie Bracquemond (1840-1916) did not come from a wealthy background or have a supportive family like her Impressionist colleagues Morisot and Cassatt. Her husband Félix Bracquemond was also an artist, yet resented her adoption of Impressionist techniques, even though both Marie and Félix exhibited with the Impressionists in 1879 and1880. Marie was especially influenced by Monet’s colors and exploration of light, something Félix could not abide by and never ceased to berate. Marie exhibited without Félix in 1886, but despite her success, eventually stopped painting completely to avoid the constant haranguing and discouragement of her husband. Sadly her artist partner could not appreciate her creative gifts. 

There is so much more to these artists and I hope this encourages you to explore more of their art on your own. 

Please join Lisa Michaux for her lecture Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, and Marie Bracquemond and the Impressionist Exhibitions at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts on March 12th at 11:00 am. The event is free, but tickets are required.  click new.artsmia.org