“The Bath (Girl Arranging Her Hair)” is an exemplary work by Berthe Morisot completed in 1886, utilizing oil on canvas as the medium. As a genre painting belonging to the Impressionism movement, it measures 66 by 81.5 centimeters. The artwork is currently housed at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States.
The artwork depicts a young girl in an intimate moment of self-grooming. She is seen arranging her hair, possibly after bathing, with her arms lifted above her head, exuding a sense of relaxed ease and the simplicity of daily life. The subject sits against a neutral, loosely brushed background, which accentuates the fleeting quality of light and atmosphere—hallmarks of Impressionist technique. Morisot’s deft brushwork lends a soft, tactile quality to the girl’s attire and skin, evoking the movement and weightlessness of the moment. This piece, as with many genre paintings, offers a glimpse into the private sphere, personalizing the universal and routine nature of human experience.
