The Sisters
Berthe Morisot·1869
Historical Context
Painted in 1869 and now in the National Gallery of Art, this double portrait of Morisot's two sisters — Edma and presumably Yves (Thiburce) or another sibling — is an early Salon-targeted work showing Morisot's ambitions as a serious painter of modern figures. Double portraits of women in domestic settings were a respectable but demanding genre, and Morisot brings to it her characteristic psychological insight, the two figures present in the same space yet individually absorbed. The composition reflects her study of both Manet and the old masters.
Technical Analysis
The two figures are placed with compositional care, their proximity and contrasting orientations creating a quiet dialogue. Morisot uses a restrained early palette of dark greens, creams, and warm flesh tones, the handling relatively controlled compared to her later work while already showing her sensitivity to light and expression.
