Young Girl in a Mantelet
Berthe Morisot·1880
Historical Context
A mantelet was a short cape or shawl worn by women in the later nineteenth century, and this 1880 portrait of a young girl wearing one is now held in Tel Aviv. Morisot was persistently interested in the specificity of women's and girls' dress as a visual and social subject, and the mantelet here functions as a pictorial element that creates visual interest around the shoulders and chest. The model's youth and the somewhat formal nature of the garment give this work a particular character — somewhere between a casual portrait and a costume study.
Technical Analysis
The mantelet's fabric is rendered with a looser, more gestural touch than the face, creating contrast between the sustained attention given to the sitter's expression and the free handling of her clothing.
