Nude Woman from the Rear 1888 - 1889

Editor: This is Berthe Morisot's "Nude Woman from the Rear," undated, at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a delicate print, almost ethereal. What stands out to you about its making? Curator: Considering Morisot's social position, the means of production here are intriguing. Etching allowed her greater control and intimacy compared to the grand scale of painting, reflecting the limited public space afforded women artists. What does this small scale tell us? Editor: It feels like a private moment, made accessible through this multiple. I hadn't considered the social implications of her choice of medium. Curator: Exactly. The materiality and the context of its making are deeply intertwined. It challenges the hierarchy of art forms, elevating printmaking as a tool for female expression. Editor: I see it now. Thanks for showing me that.