This is the first major exhibition dedicated to the artistic exchange between French Impressionists Édouard Manet (1832–1883) and Berthe Morisot (1841–1895). Manet, widely recognized as a pioneer of modern painting, and Morisot, the only woman to exhibit under her own name in the original Impressionist group, forged a relationship that profoundly shaped the trajectory of nineteenth-century art. Spanning fifteen pivotal years (1868–1883), the exhibition traces how their friendship developed alongside their artistic ambitions, offering a nuanced portrait of two painters working at the forefront of a rapidly changing cultural moment.

Traditionally, the story of their relationship has been framed almost exclusively through Manet’s famous portraits of Morisot, which cast her primarily as his muse. Morisot’s own artistic output was long overshadowed, often interpreted as a reflection or extension of Manet’s stylistic innovations. However, emerging scholarship has significantly reframed this narrative. By the final years of his life, Manet had begun to look closely at Morisot’s example — her modern domestic subjects, her luminous palette, and especially her quick, tremulous brushwork. Far from a one-sided dynamic, their exchange reveals a dialogue in which Morisot’s influence grew increasingly decisive.

Rich in new research and accompanied by major loans from international collections, the exhibition reconsiders this remarkable artistic friendship and its place in the evolution of modern art. By foregrounding Morisot’s contributions and the mutuality of their creative dialogue, the show invites visitors to reimagine the foundations of Impressionism itself. In highlighting how each artist challenged, inspired, and transformed the other, the exhibition sheds fresh light on the complexities of collaboration, influence, and innovation at a pivotal moment in art history.