Yesterday, while the coronation parties were meant to be in full force, my republican self went to see the ‘Berthe Morisot: Shaping Impressionism’ exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery.
I had been reading about Berthe Morisot in my current read, ‘The Story of Art Without Men’, and was pleased to see that there was an exhibition of her work on display locally. It was a small show, with Morisot’s works mainly confined to the mid-1870s to 1880s, alongside works by other artists who apparently were an influence on her work. It was good to see her work up close, and reproductions don’t really do them justice. The brushwork is shimmering and loose, while also managing to be delicate and light. I was interested in the way Morisot used lost edges to give her works a diffuse, ethereal feel.
On entering the exhibition, the viewer is greeted first by this assertive self-portrait.
Seeing Morisot’s paintings made me want to start painting immediately as soon as I got back home (I didn’t, though, as I didn’t feel well).
I am looking forward to reading the exhibition catalogue, which includes some interesting-sounding essays.