Summer's Day
- Artist: Berthe Morisot
- Date: about 1879
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
"Summer's Day by Berthe Morisot. This painting is a beautiful example of Impressionist art, capturing the tranquility of a summer day at the Bois de Boulogne in Paris. You can see two women enjoying a leisurely boat ride on the lake, surrounded by lush foliage and water lilies.
Morisot's use of bold brushstrokes gives this painting a dynamic energy that contrasts with the relaxed atmosphere of the scene. Notice how her distinctive zig-zag brushstrokes catch the light dancing on the water's surface, creating shimmering prisms of refracted light.
As an Impressionist painter, Morisot was part of a movement that sought to capture modern life and everyday experiences in art. Her work often featured scenes of middle-class leisure set within domesticated nature, like this one. But what makes Summer's Day stand out is the boldness and vigour she brings to her painting technique.
Berthe Morisot painted this scene around 1879, using oil on canvas. She was known for her innovative style, which often incorporated loose brushstrokes and emphasis on light and colour. Despite facing criticism from some critics who saw her work as 'unfinished' or 'misty', Morisot's unique technique has become an iconic part of Impressionist art."
See it in person
Summer's Day hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
