Women Impressionists at Legion of Honor Emerge From Shadows of Sunshine Art

The Impressionists of the late 19th century left their studios for the open air and became obsessed with daylight and freedom. Being ultimately French, they marveled at the ponds and gardens of the countryside, snow-covered Parisian streets, sunny sea beaches, and the fleeting beauty of women—either well-dressed or undressed, bathing or eating fruit, surrounded by flowers, or accompanied by distinguished gentlemen. The public quickly learned to appreciate the art, but an air of freedom it emanated was not enough to put female artists on par with Manet, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, and Degas in the public eye. “As a person who has hit the glass ceiling many times, I think about these women, and I’m really proud that the glass ceiling has been cracked,” said Diane Wilsey, the major patron for the exhibition “Women Impressionists” opened at the Legion of Honor on Saturday. An eye-opening show presents four female artists whose less known artwork is a significant part of ‘this art that makes you happy” (Wilsey). Oil paintings, pastels, and drawings by Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, Eva Gonzales, and Marie Bracquemond are presented side-by-side for the first time, and accompanied by informative wall texts (curator Dr. Ingrid Pfeiffer). Despite the obvious talent, perseverance, and determination, each female artist had to overcome the confines of her gender, making sacrifices for her art, or, in case of Bracquemond, sacrificing her art for the normalcy of family life with a disapproving husband. Married to the brother of Manet, and a friend of Renoir (Morisot), or a friend of Degas, never married, never a mother, although famous for her mother-and-child paintings (Cassat), or the only chosen formal pupil of Manet, dead at 34 (Gonzales)—these women speak to us through their art today each in her clear voice. Each of them had passed the test of time to be considered equal among other [male] impressionists. As the director of Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco John Buchanan put it, “What a difference a hundred years made!” Women Impressionists show runs through September 21 at Lincoln Park, 34th Ave. and Clement St., SF. 415-750-3600. Information: www.legionofhonor.org Photo: Berthe Morisot “Interior.”