Self-portrait with Daughter Julie - Berthe Morisot

A delicate drypoint print by Berthe Morisot, capturing an intimate moment between the artist and her daughter, Julie.

This drypoint print captures a quiet, domestic moment between Berthe Morisot and her daughter, Julie Manet. Morisot, a central figure in the Impressionist circle, frequently turned her gaze toward her immediate surroundings, documenting the private lives of women and children with a light, observational touch. In this composition, the two figures are seated closely, their heads inclined toward a shared object, likely a book or a portfolio of drawings. The intimacy of the scene is conveyed through the proximity of their forms and the gentle alignment of their gazes. Morisot employs a delicate, economical line to define the figures. The drypoint technique allows for a soft, velvety quality in the burr of the lines, which creates a sense of atmospheric depth despite the sparse background. The artist avoids heavy shading, preferring to suggest form through light, directional strokes that follow the contours of the clothing and the soft features of the faces. The composition is balanced and unforced, reflecting the artist's ability to find aesthetic value in the mundane rhythms of daily life. As a print, this work demonstrates Morisot's technical proficiency beyond her better-known oil paintings. The medium requires a decisive hand, as the copper plate does not allow for the same degree of revision as canvas. Here, the spontaneity of her draftsmanship remains intact, showing her characteristic focus on capturing a fleeting impression rather than a rigid, academic likeness. The work provides a window into the personal world of one of the most significant female artists of the nineteenth century, documenting the bond between mother and child with restraint and clarity. It is an example of the Impressionist interest in the transient nature of light and human connection, rendered here in the monochromatic precision of the printmaker's art.