The Bath
1885-86
Although titled 'The Bath,' this painting by Berthe Morisot actually shows the quiet, intimate moments of grooming that surround it. A young girl—likely the artist's daughter Julie—sits in a loose white chemise with arms raised to tie her hair, a hairbrush resting casually in her lap. The loose, feathery brushstrokes are classic Impressionism, capturing the fleeting light and spontaneous atmosphere of a morning routine. Morisot was a rare female voice in the male-dominated Impressionist movement, celebrated for her focus on the private, domestic lives of women.