Swan and Duck 1888 - 1889

Editor: This is Berthe Morisot's "Swan and Duck" from the Harvard Art Museums. It's an etching, delicate and almost ephemeral. It feels like a fleeting glimpse of nature. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: For me, it's a study in light and shadow. Morisot captures the way light dances on the water, reflecting off the birds’ feathers. You can almost feel the breeze rustling through the reeds. Don't you think she's less concerned with a precise rendering and more with conveying a mood? Editor: I think you're right. It’s about capturing a feeling, not a photograph. Curator: Exactly! It’s that impressionistic spirit, bottled into a tiny, beautiful scene. I feel like I’m right there with the ducks. Editor: I agree. I'll never look at a pond the same way again.