By DARLA MCCAMMON,
Lakeland Art Association

Berthe Morisot’s “Daffodils.”

WARSAW — Daffodils are brave and stalwart little flowers. Well before the rest of slumbering bulbs and foliage are willing to show off to the world, the daffodil delights us by protruding through the earth in order to show us a bright yellow face and green stems. Risking late snowfalls and hailstorms, this harbinger of spring is also the subject of many paintings.

We have talked about Berthe Morisot before but you have not seen her interpretation of daffodils. Flowers were considered appropriate subjects for female artists during her era.

This painting, “Daffodils” was completed in 1885 when women artists were often held in less esteem than their male counterparts. Women were expected to be wives and mothers, not artists. Fortunately for Morisot her family and her spouse recognized her obvious talent and encouraged it. She was in the upper crust of society which held even more taboos on certain behaviors for women so it is amazing that we can appreciate her work that has survived today. 

Morisot was the youngest in her family and received art lessons. It was not long before her work began to exceed the instructor’s abilities. Through fate Morisot and her sister became acquainted with some extraordinary artists who accepted and encouraged their work.

Her sister, equally talented, succumbed to societal pressures and left her art behind to become a wife. Among those who kept up the encouragement to Morisot was the artist Eduoard Manet who became a great friend. Both Manet and Morisot became influential in challenging the others’ work.

That influence can be seen in much of the pieces each artist produced during this time. Morisot may have worked artistically with Manet, but she was smitten by his brother Eugene and ultimately these two were married. Thankfully, Eugene also encouraged her beautiful art work.

Both Manet and Morisot were pioneers for the evolving style called impressionism in France. This group of artists painted things as if it were a momentary impression, rather than a fully detailed and explicitly refined painting. They focused more on the feeling of the moment and the light and color that helped flavor the mood, thus they became known as impressionists.

Their work was recognizable as to subject matter, but these artists, including Morisot, did not attempt to provide the viewer with an accurate or photographically realistic depiction. 

I hope you enjoy Morisot’s “Daffodils” as much as those popping up around us.

Lastly, I am very happy to inform my readers that one of my paintings has been selected to be the cover of Glo magazine for the month of May. I am grateful for this honor and I hope you keep an eye on your local newsstands for the free copy. I hope you like it.

Upcoming and Current Events

• Exhibit of Senior Art Student Show from Grace College at Warsaw City Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
• LAA Surreal art exhibit is open now at 302 E. Winona Avenue, Warsaw, from 10:30 a.m. through 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
• The fourth Monday of each month, visit the new LAA Gallery in the evening for special programs. Call (574) 269-1101 for dates, subject of the program, and times.

Contact your author/artist Darla McCammon through email at [email protected], or visit her website.