The Orange Picker 1889

Berthe Morisot, one of the few female Impressionists, painted The Orange Picker during a time when women's roles were largely confined to the domestic sphere. Here, two women are depicted amidst the lush greenery and ripe fruit trees. One woman, partially obscured by the tree, reaches to pick an orange, while the other stands below, her form draped in a cloak. The scene appears leisurely, an escape from the rigid social expectations placed on women of the time. Morisot often focused on intimate, domestic scenes, reflecting her own life and experiences, "My ambition is limited to wanting to capture something fleeting.” The painting has an emotional depth, inviting us to contemplate the relationship between the women and their connection to the natural world. It subtly challenges traditional representations of women in art. Ultimately, The Orange Picker becomes a reflection on women's lives, their relationships, and their quiet acts of resistance against societal norms.