Reading

Reading was one of four paintings chosen by Morisot to show at the first Impressionist exhibition in 1974. The model for the painting was Morisot's sister Edma whom she used quite often possibly because as a female painter of the time it was difficult for Morisot to travel about for locations and models unlike her male contemporaries. Morisot often enjoyed painting En plein air which was popular with many of the impressionists of the time. Morisot had been quoted to say "Every day I pray that the Good Lord will make me like a child, That is to say, that He will make me see nature and render it the way a child would, without preconceptions."