“Julie Listening” is an oil on canvas genre painting created by Berthe Morisot in 1888, an artist associated with the Impressionist movement. The artwork remains in a private collection. It exemplifies the Impressionist style, which is characterized by loose brushwork and an attention to the effects of light.
The artwork captures a candid moment of introspection or quiet contemplation. It features a young girl, presumably named Julie, portrayed in a three-quarter profile. She rests her cheek on her hand, while her other arm lies along what appears to be a piano, suggesting a brief pause in her musical activity to engage in listening. The color palette is delicate yet vibrant, with deftly applied strokes of blues, greens, whites, and flesh tones creating a lively surface texture. The tactile quality of the brushwork adds a sense of immediacy and intimacy to the scene, inviting viewers into this serene moment in Julie’s day. The loose, gestural application of paint is indicative of the spontaneity and transient quality embraced by the Impressionists, capturing a fleeting moment in time. Morisot’s work frequently explores domestic life and the experiences of women and children, with Julie Listening being a fine example of these themes executed with sensitivity and skill.
