The artwork titled “Portrait of the Artist’s Sister, Mme Edma Pontillon” is by the Impressionist artist Berthe Morisot and dates from approximately 1872 to 1875. This oil on canvas piece measures 46.1 by 56 cm and is part of the Impressionist movement. The genre of the artwork is a portrait, and it can be found at the Courtauld Gallery in London, UK.
Describing the artwork, we see a woman shown from the waist up in a three-quarter pose facing slightly to her left, making direct eye contact with the viewer, which imparts a sense of engagement and presence. The impressionist style is evident in the soft, loose brushstrokes that give a sense of immediacy and the effect of light rather than precise anatomical detail. She is elegantly dressed in a light-colored dress with ruffled ornamentation, and she wears a dark ribbon around her neck and a floral brooch. Her hair is styled up with what appears to be pearls adorning her head. Her hands are delicately placed, one atop the other, resting on what might be the edge of a table or chair. The background is subdued and neutral, focusing attention on the figure. Morisot’s skillful use of color, light, and composition typical of Impressionism, gives the portrait an air of refinement and quiet dignity.
