Beautiful Art with a Message?
Happy Birthday, Berthe Morisot!
This painting, “The Artist’s Daughter” by Berthe Morisot is one of my favorite pieces in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts–for obvious reasons! I like to think they are quilting! Mrs. Morisot was one of the few female Impressionists. This portrait is of the artist’s daughter, Julie.
At first glance, I assumed that the painting depicted a mother teaching her daughter to stitch. After reading more about the painting, HERE we find that Julie is with her Nanny. Seems sad to me that the artist is only an observer in her daughter’s life…What do you think?
For more information about the MIA’s collection, see HERE.
Hope you have family time today!
Lori
12 responses to “Beautiful Art with a Message?”
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I love Morisot but Mary Cassat is my most favorite! Thanks for the reminder!
I love Mary Cassat,too. I think it’s because they both painted images of daily life–so personal!
I love the picture…I agree the nanny thought is sad…I was so blessed to have stayed home with my kids. I was not ready for my empty nest!! LOL! Did not like it one bit!!
You seem to have adjusted by now–lots of projects and people in your daily life.?
Lots of projects…I haven’t sewed this much in years and I enjoy it so much. I babysit my little niece Audrey alot and my girls and their husbands are close so I see them alot now. The college years were rough! 🙂 It took me a while to figure out what I “used to do” before I was Mom. 🙂 I help my Mom when she needs me and same goes with my brother’s and sisters. There are 6 of us. And you were actually the first blog I ever really read…I wanted to tell you for a while…this is kind of hilarious…I read your intro and was tickled…here was someone like me I thought! Sewing,shooting and keeping in touch…and then I laughed because you shoot with a camera and I have a 12 gauge…LOL! I love to shoot sporting clays but I do have a fetish for picture taking. 🙂 I love when my kids come home…and love watching them make their way. So proud of them . 🙂
Thanks for the painting- I haven’t seen that one before and I love the Impressionist’s art. Such a lovely study.
It’s so intimate. Morisot certainly captures the intensity of both the child and the Nanny.
I love this painting. It reminds me very much of Mary Cassat’s work which I also love. I enjoy seeing the interaction of women, girls and their mothers and even the single woman that seems to be deep in thought. As I looked at the Morisot piece, I too, thought it was a mother and daughter. Women of all ages learn from one another whatever their relationship. Sometimes what is learned is wonderful and life changing. And I’ll leave this on a positive note. Thanks for sharing.
Fondly-Jane
Jane, you are right…the child seems intensely interested and no doubt will learn to sew and perhaps learn to paint from her mother—imagine the art quilts!!
Being a glass half full girl… maybe Mary’s talents were concentrated with painting rather than needlework, but Julie was drawn to it. Those of us who had the luxury/blessing of being stay-at-home moms probably can’t relate to the idea of our children having a nanny. Our much younger sisters often have had to work and their children may be having daycare rather than the luxury of a private nanny. I have a little one next door (surrogate grandchild) who comes to me for learning to sew, crochet and embroider. Why? Her mama has no patience – nor time – for those things, but the little one is eager to learn. She is amazingly good, too. History is repeating itself – 60+ years ago my mother taught me to embroider, but her much older friend next door taught me to crochet. I HAD to learn that skill. Wasn’t I lucky?
You were lucky and now you are sharing your love in a beautiful way. You’re right-mothers often don’t have the time to be patient and teach their children. Your neighbor child is lucky, too.