Compromise and Challenge: Morisots Mother-Child Paintings in 19th-Century Paris

Abstract

For Paris, the 19th century is unique and precious. The changing regimes, the establishment of capitalism, and the progression of industrialization reshaped the city's landscape and society. As these changes led people into modern society, new challenges appeared accordingly, and the most significant one was the decline in birth rates. New lifestyles and issues altered people's thinking and focal points. Consequently, transformations in artistic expression emerged. In the vibrant tapestry of 19th-century French art, the new mother-child paintings, born to solve population problems of the industrialization process, witnessed the career paths of female artists and their feminine movements. Female artists like Berthe Morisot used this theme to gain professional recognition in the patriarchal society and to reflect and redefine their complex social roles as women in the transforming society, subtly challenging the conventional gender norms. This paper delves into how societal transformations influenced Berthe Morisot and the theme of her paintings, examining her works as a lens to explore her accomplishments.