Julie Manet and her whippet Laërte
- Original dimensions
- 80 x 73 cm
- Museum
- Marmottan Monet museum
- Year
- 1893
Scene depicted
The canvas reveals a tender complicity between a young girl and her faithful four-legged companion. Laëlle, the greyhound, seems to capture all the affection one can feel for a furry friend, while belonging to a world of lightness and dreams. This bond visible in the composition offers us an intimate vision of a shared moment, suspended in time, Julie's gentle and penetrating gaze adding to the depth of this pictorial work .
Historical context
Created in 1893 in Paris, this painting bears witness to the passage of a bygone era, that of the Impressionist movement, of which Berthe Morisot is an emblematic figure. The canvas , now preserved at the Marmottan Monet museum , immerses us in the heart of the elegance and sweetness of life at the end of the 19th century, between soft and vibrant light, evoking nostalgic memories of an artistic and bourgeois Paris.
Place in the artist's career
This painting is part of a flourishing period in Morisot's career, where she finally finds her voice and place in the artistic universe. Compared to “The Cradle” and “Woman with a Hat,” this masterpiece demonstrates a growing mastery of light and tones, abandoning dark shades in favor of vibrant hues, adding an even stronger emotional dimension to her work.
Anecdote
“To create is to capture a magical moment,” said Berthe, about this tender work. Imagine her, pen in hand, sketching the outlines of Julie and Laërte on a spring morning, where the gentle rays of the sun played through the leaves, creating an almost fairy-tale atmosphere conducive to wonder. The painting then became a tribute to friendship and the beauty of innocence.
Major exhibitions
Monet Collector