Villa with Orange Trees, Nice 1882

Berthe Morisot, a female Impressionist painter, created "Villa with Orange Trees, Nice" using oil on canvas. Morisot’s work is an interesting case study because she made very free use of a very traditional medium. Oil paint had been the workhorse of academic painting for centuries. Yet here, the quick, broken brushwork is anything but labored. The loose application of paint seems almost effortless, but it belies a deep engagement with the materials. Morisot coaxes light and atmosphere from the pigments, which in turn, animate the scene. The orange trees become bursts of color and vitality. Morisot was working at a time when painting was becoming increasingly commercialized, however, her approach sets her apart. It's a reminder that the value of art lies not only in its subject, but in the labor, skill, and vision that go into its creation. This approach allows us to appreciate art as a form of skilled making.