Morisot’s redheaded girl is a vibrant focal point in the centre of an otherwise pastel scene. A triangle is formed by the light yellow and orange tones seen in the girl’s hair, her dog, and the chair, drawing our eyes to the centre. It is unclear whether this is an interior or exterior scene given the intensity of the light – the large potted palm suggests a conservatory. The artist has used extreme highlights, recreating the brightness of natural light (a key aim of the Impressionist group of which she was part). As a result of this brightness, some detail is lost; the work is faint as if a memory.
