GENOA.- Italy’s first major exhibition dedicated to Berthe Morisot (1841–1895), one of the foremost female artists of the Impressionist movement, is on display at the Palazzo Ducale in Genoa from October 12, 2024, to February 23, 2025. Titled Impression, Morisot, the exhibition marks a significant cultural event that celebrates Morisot’s contributions to Impressionism, a movement she helped shape alongside male contemporaries like Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
The exhibition is organized in collaboration with the Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret in Nice and features previously unseen works from the Morisot family’s private collection. The project is supported by the Liguria Region and the City of Genoa and is curated by Marianne Mathieu, a renowned expert on Berthe Morisot and the history of Impressionism. The exhibit is part of the 150th-anniversary celebrations of Impressionism, organized by the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, and is under the patronage of the French Embassy in Italy.
A Revolutionary Woman in Art
Berthe Morisot was the only woman to exhibit alongside the pioneering group of Impressionists at their first exhibition in 1874. Rejected by the official Salon in Paris, these young artists—Monet, Degas, Renoir, and others—displayed their innovative works in the photography studio of Felix Nadar, challenging traditional artistic norms. Morisot’s inclusion among this group speaks to her boldness and the recognition of her talent in an era dominated by male artists.
The Genoa exhibition seeks to highlight the influence of Morisot’s two stays on the French Riviera during the winters of 1881-1882 and 1888-1889 on her artistic development. The Mediterranean light, vibrant colors, and local architecture inspired her work, resulting in brighter tones and more liberated brushstrokes. One of the standout pieces from this period is Illuminated Boat (1889), the only nocturnal painting Morisot ever created. Her works from this time also feature the local vegetation, as seen in paintings like Under the Orange Tree (1889) and the near-abstract Orange Tree Branches (1889).
A Life in Art: Family and Personal Expression
The exhibition features over 80 works, including paintings, etchings, watercolors, pastels, and a collection of previously unseen photographs and archival documents. Visitors can trace Morisot’s artistic journey, from her early days copying works by Italian masters like Veronese at the Louvre to her mature Impressionist style. The exhibition is laid out chronologically across eleven rooms in the Palazzo Ducale’s Appartamento del Doge, offering an in-depth look at Morisot’s evolving techniques and thematic explorations.
One of the exhibition’s highlights is its focus on Morisot’s personal life and how it shaped her art. Her family was a constant source of inspiration, and her salons—first at her parents’ home and later at her residence after marrying Eugène Manet (brother of painter Édouard Manet)—became artistic and intellectual hubs. These gatherings included not only fellow artists like Renoir, Monet, and Degas but also prominent intellectuals such as Stéphane Mallarmé and Emile Zola.
The exhibition includes rarely seen works like Portrait of Madame Boursier (1867), Morisot’s cousin, and a youthful work that testifies to her early ambitions. Another significant piece is a portrait painted by her sister Edma in 1865, showing Berthe with a brush in hand, a symbol of her emerging determination to pursue a career as an artist.
Exploring Morisot’s Maternal and Domestic Themes
Morisot’s daughter, Julie Manet, was one of her favorite subjects, and she is depicted at various stages of her life in the artist’s works. After her mother’s death, Julie became dedicated to promoting her mother’s art, ensuring her place in art history through careful documentation and exhibitions. This mother-daughter relationship is a central theme in the exhibition, along with Morisot’s sensitive portrayals of childhood, seen in works such as The Fable (1883), Girl with a Doll (1884), and Girl in a Park (1893). These paintings highlight Morisot’s reputation as a “painter of childhood,” where she captured the innocence and delicacy of young subjects with remarkable tenderness.
The exhibition includes sketchbooks and preparatory drawings that reveal Morisot’s meticulous process, as well as standalone drawings and pastels that are considered finished works in their own right. One of the more radical aspects of Morisot’s technique, which is explored in the exhibition, is her use of the “unfinished” look, where she allowed parts of the raw canvas to show through, integrating it into the composition as another color or texture. This approach is evident in works like Young Woman Adjusting Her Skates (1890).
The Broader Impact of Morisot's Legacy
A series of talks and cultural events accompany the exhibition, providing deeper insight into Morisot’s life, her artistic context, and her role as a pioneering female artist. Organized by the Palazzo Ducale in collaboration with the French Embassy, the program includes lectures by renowned writers and art historians, such as Melania Mazzucco and Giuseppe Scaraffia. Additionally, a film series, in partnership with Circuito Cinema di Genova, will explore the vibrant artistic atmosphere of the late 19th century.
For those eager to learn more, a related exhibition, Berthe Morisot, Impressionist Painter, will be held at the GAM Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Turin from October 16, 2024, to March 9, 2025. Visitors to both exhibitions can benefit from a reduced ticket price upon presentation of their Genoa exhibition ticket.
With over 80 works on display, Impression, Morisot provides a comprehensive look at the life and art of a trailblazing woman who helped define one of the most important movements in modern art. It offers a unique opportunity to appreciate Berthe Morisot’s contributions to Impressionism and to explore the intimate and innovative aspects of her work.
