Eugène Manet on the Isle of Wight
This painting is of Eugène Manet looking out a hotel window at 2 passing women and a few boats at the shore. The work is by Berthe Morisot, who is the wife of the subject and the artist I am focusing on for my story. Morisot and Manet were married in December of 1874 and this work is from 1875. Morisot created this painting during their honeymoon, located on the Isle of Wight, Cowes specifically for this work. Some historians have analyzed Morisot’s choice to paint from inside with curtains shielding from outside. Scholars believe that this choice was made to represent the restrictions placed on women during the time.
During their honeymoon here Morisot painted many other works of their time on The Isle of Wight. These include Aboard a Yacht, Boats, Boats on the Quay, English Seascape, and of course, The Isle of Wight. She was clearly very inspired by this place. Her consistency of painting from small hidden points of view during this trip shows her reluctance to paint in public, based on the backlash and judgment she would have received.