Berthe Morisot, the first woman Impressionist and a celebrated French painter, created “The Basket-Chair” (La Hotte) in 1885. This oil painting features a seated woman in a garden holding a basket as she looks directly at the viewer. The greenery around her is rendered with loose brushstrokes, emphasizing the light and atmosphere of the surroundings.
Morisot believed that art should aim to capture moments that are fleeting yet poignant; this philosophy is evident in “The Basket-Chair.” The composition expertly captures the serenity of an everyday moment: a woman taking a break from her daily routine to relax outdoors.
“The Basket-Chair” is an example of Morisot’s mature style that pushed beyond traditional Impressionism boundaries. She utilized bold color and layered brushwork to explore texture and depth in her paintings, as can be seen in this work. This painting is part of archival material donated to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston by Audrey Jones Beck.
