Afternoon Tea
1880
Marie Bracquemond captures a quiet, sun-dappled moment of leisure in this charming Impressionist scene. A young woman, dressed in a pristine white outfit topped with an enormous, frilly hat, is completely absorbed in her book while enjoying an afternoon snack of grapes and tea. The loose, vibrant brushstrokes make the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees feel almost alive, a hallmark of the Impressionist movement. Bracquemond was one of the 'three great ladies' of Impressionism alongside Cassatt and Morisot, though her work was often overshadowed by her husband's strict control over her career.