Berthe MorisotFrench, 1841–1895The Harbor at Lorient
Can I see it?
Yes, on view now
Where is “The Harbor at Lorient” now? National Gallery of Art, Gallery 82 · West Building, Main Floor, Washington, D.C. Yes, on view now. Checked September 29, 2026.
Open now· until 5:00 PM
On public display.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the painting
The Harbor at Lorient is an oil-on-canvas painting by French artist Berthe Morisot, executed in 1869. The painting has the dimensions of 43 by 72 cm. It is held at the National Gallery of Art, in Washington, D.C.
Details
- Accession number
- 1970.17.48
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- National Gallery of Art
- Image: National Gallery of Art — Museum open access
In the life of Berthe Morisot
The whole life1868
Meeting Édouard Manet
Henri Fantin-Latour introduces Morisot to Édouard Manet, who becomes her longtime friend and colleague. She often poses for him — among the portraits are “Repose” and “Berthe Morisot with a Bouquet of Violets” — and at Christmas he gives her an easel.
1869
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.
