The artwork “Shepherdess Resting,” created by Berthe Morisot in 1891, is an oil on canvas painting belonging to the Impressionism art movement. This genre painting measures 114 by 63 centimeters and is presently housed at the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, France. It reflects the distinctive characteristics of Impressionism with its loose brushwork and depiction of light and atmosphere.
In the artwork, a pastoral scene unfolds under the gentle embrace of natural light. At the forefront, the shepherdess herself is portrayed in a moment of repose, lying on the grass with her body relaxed and her head resting on her hand. She is dressed in a long, dark skirt and a light top with sleeves rolled up to her elbows, suggesting a moment of rest during her labors. A soft red garment adorns her head, providing a vivid contrast to her outfit and the surrounding greens and blues of the landscape. Close to her is a small, pale yellow sheep, denoting her role and the rural setting of the work. In the midground and background, scattered trees and blue-toned bushes rise into the distance, while hints of a fence and figures in the landscape suggest a wider environment beyond the frame. The artist employs swift, expressive brushstrokes that give a sense of the breeze and the transient quality of the moment captured. The light, likely an overcast sky, imbues the scene with a serene, diffused illumination, illustrating Morisot’s mastery in conveying the effects of light on color and form.
