Summer’s Day (1879 CE)

Summer’s Day (Jour d’été), painted in 1879 by Berthe Morisot, is a captivating impressionist masterpiece that transports viewers to a serene moment on a lake in Paris’s Bois de Boulogne in France. Depicting two elegantly dressed women in a rowboat, the artwork bursts with light, color, and fluid brushstrokes, offering a glimpse into the leisurely life of the Parisian bourgeoisie. This painting not only showcases Morisot’s technical brilliance but also her unique perspective as a female artist in a male-dominated art world.

Berthe Morisot (1841–1895), a pioneering figure in the impressionist movement, created Summer’s Day during the height of her artistic career. Born in Bourges, France, Morisot studied under Camille Corot and formed close ties with Édouard Manet, later marrying his brother, Eugène Manet. As one of the few women actively involved in impressionism, she exhibited regularly with the group from 1874 onward. Summer’s Day was painted in 1879 in Bois de Boulogne, a fashionable Parisian park where Morisot often sketched with her daughter, Julie. The artwork reflects the societal norms of the late 19th century, particularly the limited public spaces accessible to women, which shaped Morisot’s focus on intimate and semi-public settings like parks and gardens. Its creation coincided with a period of artistic maturity for Morisot, who was gaining recognition among peers like Monet, Renoir, and Degas.

The painting was acquired by the National Gallery in London in 1880, remarkably soon after its creation, signaling its immediate impact and Morisot’s rising prominence—an unusual achievement for a female artist at the time. Morisot’s choice of Bois de Boulogne as a setting was deeply personal; she frequently visited the park, finding it a socially acceptable space to observe and sketch. Critics initially described her loose, zigzag brushstrokes as “unfinished,” a common critique of impressionism, but today these are celebrated as innovative. 

The artwork holds a pivotal place in impressionism, embodying the movement’s emphasis on capturing fleeting moments, light, and atmosphere over detailed realism. Morisot’s focus on everyday feminine subjects—two women enjoying a leisurely boat ride—offered a distinctly female perspective, contrasting with the grander or more objectifying themes of her male contemporaries. The painting reflects the bourgeois ideals of 19th-century Paris, where public parks like Bois de Boulogne symbolized modernity and social mingling. Symbolically, the work underscores women’s constrained yet elegant presence in public spaces, highlighting Morisot’s subtle commentary on gender roles. 

Summer’s Day is an oil-on-canvas painting measuring 45.7 × 75.2 cm (18 × 29.6 inches). Morisot’s impressionist technique shines through her loose, zigzag brushstrokes, which create a sense of movement and spontaneity, particularly in the water’s reflections and the play of light. Her palette of soft pastels—blues, greens, and whites—evokes the airy clarity of a summer day. The sketch-like quality, with minimal detail and open spaces, invites viewers to engage their imagination, a hallmark of her ethereal style. The painting’s composition, with its off-center figures and dynamic light effects, exemplifies Morisot’s mastery of capturing transient beauty.

Created in the Bois de Boulogne in 1879, Jour d’été was purchased by the National Gallery in London in 1880, where it remains part of the permanent collection. Its swift acquisition underscores its early recognition as a significant work.