“Children at the Basin” is an oil on canvas painting by Berthe Morisot dated 1886, embodying the art movement of Impressionism. Measuring 92 x 73 cm, this genre painting is currently housed at the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, France. It captures a charming scene, focusing on the tender dynamics and activities of children engaged in a timeless moment.
The artwork depicts two young girls, likely sisters, by a basin. The child on the left stands, holding what appears to be a model boat or a toy, poised to place it gently into the water. She seems to be caught in thoughtful concentration, while her body language suggests a moment of delicate balance and interaction with the object in her hand. Her companion, sitting on the right, watches the water intently, with an infusion of curiosity and perhaps fascination in her expression and posture. Both children are dressed in loose-fitting, light-colored dresses, suggestive of the fashion of the period and indicative of a casual, indoor setting.
Morisot’s skillful application of loose, fluid brushstrokes captures the shimmering surface of the water and the soft textures of the children’s garments. The background is softly rendered, allowing viewers’ attention to remain focused on the interplay between the figures and their activity. Light flickers across the scene, highlighting the whiteness of the dresses and the reflective quality of the water, which are rendered with swift, light touches of the brush that are characteristic of the Impressionist style.
Overall, the painting exudes an atmosphere of innocence and tranquility, offering a glimpse into the simple joys and wonder of childhood as seen through the lens of Impressionist sensibilities. Morisot manages to fix an ordinary domestic moment into a scene that has universal resonance, inviting viewers not only into the world of the subjects but also into the mood and aesthetics of an entire artistic movement.
