The artwork “Little Girl with a Doll” was created by Berthe Morisot in the year 1886. It is an oil painting on canvas that exemplifies the Impressionist movement to which Morisot belonged. This piece falls under the category of genre painting, which depict scenes of everyday life. It is currently held in a private collection. This notable work contributes to the narrative of Impressionist art, embodying the movement’s focus on capturing the ephemeral aspects of daily existence with a vivid, light-filled palette and dynamic brushstrokes.
The painting presents a quiet yet evocative scene of a young girl, with her gaze directed away from the viewer, lost in contemplation or daydream. She is captured in a casual, intimate moment of rest, leaning on her hand with her elbow propped upon a cushioned surface, as if deep in thought or absorbed in her own world. The girl’s companion, a doll, is held gently in her other hand, resting against her body. This tender detail might suggest themes of childhood innocence, imagination, or perhaps the simple, silent companionship offered by the inanimate yet cherished object.
Morisot’s brushwork is characteristically loose and fluid, imbuing the artwork with a sense of spontaneity and movement—an approach that breathes life into the fabric of the girl’s attire, the cushions, and the doll, whilst also conveying the softness of the overall atmosphere. The artist uses a light, pastel palette to infuse the scene with a delicate warmth, cutting through with bolder strokes to highlight areas and create contrast. The luminosity seen in the girl’s fair hair and the nuanced interplay of light and shadow across the form exhibit Morisot’s skill in rendering texture and depth, hallmarks of the Impressionist technique.
