“The Garden at Bougival” is an oil on canvas artwork created by Berthe Morisot in 1884. The artwork exemplifies the Impressionist movement and presents a landscape genre, measuring 92 x 73 cm. It currently resides at the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, France.
The artwork conveys a lush garden scene with an abundance of greenery and an array of flowers. The brushwork is loose and rapid, characteristic of the Impressionist style, capturing the fleeting effects of light and shadow. The vibrant colors are applied in such a way to suggest movement and the vitality of the garden. Morisot’s use of light pastel hues alongside deeper greens and reds creates a sense of depth and richness. The scene is seemingly alive with the play of natural light, which casts soft dapples across the foliage and blooms. The composition lacks the formal rigidity often found in earlier garden scenes, reflecting instead the Impressionists’ preference for naturalism and spontaneity. The garden appears to be a private and intimate space, with hints of a residential structure partially visible, which adds to the artwork’s sense of quiet seclusion amidst a natural environment.
