Hanging the Laundry out to Dry by Berthe Morisot

Berthe Morisot completed Hanging the Laundry out to Dry in 1875. With a deft touch and a pale yet subtle palette, Morisot transformed a boring subject into a dazzling study of light and color. The critics singled out Hanging the Laundry out to Dry for special praise, most notably remarking upon Berthe Morisot's command of color. Her gender was also noticed by some critics.

Berthe Morisot's Hanging the Laundry out to Dry (oil on canvas, 13x16 inches) hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.

As Berthe Morisot matured, her paintings became more delicate, and, some critics argue, ephemeral. On the next page we'll see a good example of these traits.

For more on Impressionist paintings, artists, and art history, see:

• Impressionism
• Vincent van Gogh
• Claude Monet