Bather 1891

Berthe Morisot created this painting, Bather, using oil paints and canvas, materials which had become the norm for ambitious artists by the late nineteenth century. But look closely: Morisot deploys these familiar materials in a very particular way. Notice how sketch-like it is, with seemingly hasty strokes and a lightness of touch. The materiality of the paint itself becomes part of the subject. It’s as though the artist is less interested in representing the scene realistically, than in capturing the feeling of light on skin, or the sensation of cool water. The artwork shows us that there can be a different approach to painting, one that emphasizes not just the final image, but the very act of applying pigment to canvas. It’s a reminder that every artwork is the product of human labor, and a testimony to the artist's unique sensibility.