The Port of Nice 1881 - 1882

Berthe Morisot, a female Impressionist painter, captured "The Port of Nice" with oil on canvas, presenting a scene that is both typical and deeply personal. During a period when women's roles in art were heavily circumscribed, Morisot defied societal expectations. She chose the same subject matter as her male peers but her perspective was different, and her domestic circumstances were far from equal. Here, boats float in the cerulean water, rendered in loose, fluid brushstrokes typical of Impressionism. The scene evokes a sense of fleeting beauty and tranquility. Morisot, however, has a sharp attention to detail and the way color and light can evoke a feeling. She seems to relish the interplay of light and shadow on the water. In this way she uses the visible world to express inner states. Morisot navigated the male-dominated art world of her time, and she created art that reflects both her experiences as a woman and her unique artistic vision.