Young Woman Watering a Shrub

My name is Feely T. Heart, and I will be your guide today through one of our paintings: Young Woman Watering a Shrub. This charming work, painted in 1876, is by the remarkable artist Berthe Morisot. Morisot was a trailblazer, one of the few female artists to rise to prominence in the Impressionist movement. nn Here, we see a young woman on a balcony, her back to us, delicately watering a shrub. The scene feels wonderfully intimate and personal. Morisot masterfully uses light and shadow to draw our eye through the composition. Notice the soft sunlight washing over the woman's white dress and the delicate shadows cast by the wrought iron railing. The muted color palette of grays, whites, and greens adds to the painting's sense of quiet contemplation. nn Morisot's signature Impressionistic style is evident in the loose, almost feathery brushstrokes. Rather than focusing on minute details, she captures the fleeting beauty of a moment in time. The effect is both immediate and dreamlike. nn Young Woman Watering a Shrub is a testament to Morisot's talent for capturing the simple elegance of everyday life. It's a painting that invites us to pause, reflect, and appreciate the beauty in the ordinary. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is proud to share this exquisite piece of art history with you today.