Berthe Morisot was Fragonard's descendant, Corot's student, Manet's model. But above all, Morisot was the foremost female painter of the impressionist movement and, to quote Apollinaire, "one of the most complete artists of her day." While she belongs to the finest tradition of French oil painting, her pastels are as brilliant as those of her friend Degas and her delicate watercolors are undisputed masterpieces. This book showcases the life and works of the influential artist, focusing on the key stages of her career, from her role in the "realist" avant-garde to the advent of impressionism, to the birth of her only child, Julie, who would quite literally grow up under her mother's paintbrush. An anthology of citations from the writers in her entourage--including Stéphane Mallarmé and Paul Valéry--as well as personal correspondence between Morisot and other important artists of the late nineteenth century provide further insight into a unique talent and a fascinating period in the history of art.