Artwork
A Woman Seated at a Bench on the Avenue du Bois
A Woman Seated at a Bench on the Avenue du Bois is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist Berthe Morisot. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Berthe Morisot’s oil painting A Woman Seated at a Bench on the Avenue du Bois dates from around 1850 and is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work depicts a solitary female figure positioned on a park bench, surrounded by foliage, under a blue sky.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, dressed in a hat, blue jacket and holding an open parasol, appears relaxed and gazes to her right, suggesting a moment of quiet observation. Though her facial features are indistinct, the composition conveys a sense of leisurely contemplation within an urban green space.
Technique & Style
Executed in a loose, impressionistic manner, the painting features visible brushwork and a bright palette of blues and greens. Light is rendered through the parasol’s shadow on the ground, while the overall handling of color and form emphasizes atmosphere over precise detail.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1850, the canvas entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings in the 20th century, though specific acquisition details are not recorded in the available sources. It remains one of the few early works attributed to Morisot that survive in a public collection.
Context
Morisot, a pioneering female artist of the mid‑nineteenth century, often explored everyday scenes of modern life, particularly those involving women in public spaces. This work reflects contemporary interests in leisure activities and the expanding role of women in the urban landscape of Parisian parks.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Berthe Marie Pauline Morisot was a French painter, printmaker and a member of the circle of painters in Paris who became known as the Impressionists.
