Woman in Black 1878

Berthe Morisot’s "Woman in Black," now at the National Gallery of Ireland, is a study in contrasts, primarily painted in muted tones with textural brushstrokes. Observe how the black attire of the sitter is off-set against the lighter background with fluid brushwork. Morisot’s approach to form here engages with the Impressionist movement’s interest in capturing fleeting moments and the effects of light. The loose brushstrokes and unfinished quality lend the painting an air of immediacy, as if the scene were captured in a single glance. Semiotically, the color black, traditionally associated with mourning or formality, hints at the woman's social status and perhaps her emotional state. Yet, Morisot destabilizes these fixed meanings through her dynamic application of paint, which enlivens the surface and invites viewers to engage with the painting's materiality. The overall composition, with its emphasis on surface and texture, challenges conventional notions of portraiture. Morisot prompts us to consider how paint itself can become a vehicle for expression and meaning.