Beneath the Lilac at Maurecourt 1874

Berthe Morisot painted "Beneath the Lilac at Maurecourt" using oil on canvas. This painting offers us a peek into the private sphere of bourgeois women in late 19th-century France. Morisot, an Impressionist painter, often depicted domestic scenes. Here, we see a woman, possibly the artist herself, seated beneath a lilac tree with two young children. The scene is bathed in dappled sunlight, typical of Impressionist paintings. Look at the woman's dark dress and the children's lighter attire, they create a visual contrast. The presence of a picnic basket suggests leisure and relaxation. The painting reflects the social norms of the time, where women's roles were largely confined to the domestic sphere. Yet, as a female artist, Morisot challenged these norms. The institutional history of the French Salon shows how difficult it was for women artists to exhibit their work. By studying exhibition records, letters, and diaries from this era, we can better understand the social conditions that shaped Morisot's art.