The artwork titled “The Wet Nurse Angele Feeding Julie Manet” is an oil on canvas painting by the esteemed artist Berthe Morisot, dated to 1880. It is an exemplary piece of the Impressionist movement, with its dimensions being 50 x 61 cm. The genre of the painting is classified as genre painting, which captures scenes of everyday life. This particular artwork is housed in a private collection. The painting is not only significant for its aesthetic value but also for its portrayal of social norms and maternal care in its era.
Upon observing the artwork, one is immediately struck by the intimate and tender scene portrayed. The composition features a woman, ostensibly the wet nurse Angele, who is seated outdoors in a lush garden. She is shown in a three-quarter pose, gently cradling a baby, who appears to be feeding. The wet nurse is dressed in a white garment with a colorful ribbon or scarf around her neck, and an adorned hat rests upon her head. The baby, almost a cherubic figure with a hint of softness in the depiction, nestled securely in her arms.
Morisot’s brushwork is characteristic of the Impressionist style, where quick and loose strokes create a sense of immediacy and movement. The play of light and shadow is evident, lending a natural and spontaneous quality to the scene, which is further emphasized by the dappled sunlight filtering through the green foliage that surrounds them. The background is rendered with a lively mix of greens, indicating the verdant environment, while splashes of color suggest flowers and perhaps other elements of the landscape.
The choice of subject matter, a genre scene focusing on a wet nurse with a child, speaks to the societal practices of the time, where wet nurses were commonly employed by families. Berthe Morisot, a woman artist in a male-dominated field, brings a sensitive perspective to the intimacy and quiet moments of domestic and maternal life, making this painting an insightful reflection on the roles of women and the bonds of caregiving in the 19th century.
