Marie Bracquemond

One of the things I enjoy so much about participating in the Alphabe-Thursday blog hop is the opportunities I get to come across something new, someting I didn't know (which covers a great deal), something that delights me.

While zooming around the internet for ideas for letter B, I thought maybe I would use Berthe Morisot, one of Mary Cassatt's contemperaries for my B post.  Both women are well known for their beautifully depicted work celebrating women and children via the Impressionist style of painting.   In my info quest, I came across a name I had never seen before - Marie Bracquemond. (I would have remembered that name! It bears a striking resemblence to my own maiden name.) 

As I read on I learned that Marie Bracquemond, while not as well known as her fellow female artists, was no less talented.  That Marie was a self taught artist, where Cassatt and Morisot both received instruction and opportunity to become the accomplished artists they are.  Marie's work is uniquely her own.

Sadly, her art career  and body of work is relatively small in comparison to other artists. Sad because her talent was discouraged greatly by her husband, fellow artist Felix Bracquemond, an accomplished printmaker and design artist for Limoges porcelain.   While the two Bracquemonds were well acquainted with and active in the artist society of Paris, Felix did not agree with the aesthertics of the Impressionist artists.  Although Marie did continue to paint despite the continued disapproval of Felix.  A difficult man, he did nothing to encourage Marie's development as an Impressionist.  Finally, by 1890, Marie had ceased the paint.   In 1894, Marie was named one of the grand dames of the Impressionist movements. 

In 1919, several years after her death, her son Pierre, organized a exhibition of  Marie's work.  Bracquemond continues to be recognized today as one of the leading female Impressionist artists.

Here is a sampling of her work.  Keeping in mind, that she was a self taught artist, and the fact that she painted with little to no encouragement from her husband, I can only wonder - What would she have accomplished had she been given the opportunity and support to fulfill her potential to it's very best?

self portrait

son Pierre

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