Berthe MorisotFrench, 1841–1895On the Balcony
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “On the Balcony” now? Collection: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.
Chicago, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
Details
- Accession number
- 1933.1
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — CC0
In the life of Berthe Morisot
The whole life1869
Her sister Edma marries and gives up painting
Until 1869 Berthe and Edma work side by side, but Edma marries the naval officer Adolphe Pontillon, moves to Cherbourg and has little time to paint. The sisters' letters show how much they miss each other; Edma wholeheartedly supports Berthe's continued work, and the two families remain close.
c. 1869
Destroys almost all her early work
Morisot is never pleased with her own work and destroys nearly everything she produced before 1869, which makes it hard to trace the stages of her training and the influence of her teachers.
1870–1874
The watercolour years
Oil painting is still difficult for Morisot and she works mostly in watercolour: her palette is restrained, the delicate repetition of hues creates a balanced effect, and the translucent atmosphere and feathery touch give her pictures their freshness.
1872
Durand-Ruel buys twenty-two paintings
Morisot's mature career begins in 1872: she finds an audience in the private dealer Durand-Ruel, who buys twenty-two of her paintings.
