The Cleveland Museum of Art presents "Manet & Morisot," an exhibition running from March 29 to July 5, 2026, that explores the artistic relationship between Édouard Manet and Berthe Morisot. Curated by Heather Lemonedes Brown, the show begins with Manet's portraits of Morisot, positioning her as his model, but progressively shifts focus to Morisot's own paintings, revealing her as an active observer and a more commanding artist. The exhibition culminates in a section titled "Morisot After Manet," featuring her self-portraits that demonstrate an intensity and assurance Manet never achieved in his own self-portraits. Originally mounted at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, the Cleveland iteration is reduced to just over forty works but retains its intellectual and emotional impact.
This exhibition matters because it reframes the traditional narrative of Manet and Morisot, challenging the trope of Morisot as merely Manet's muse and instead highlighting her agency and artistic prowess. By drawing a parallel to Agnès Varda's film "Cleo from 5 to 7," the show underscores a transformation from passive object to active subject, a shift that resonates with contemporary discussions about gender and authorship in art history. The exhibition also underscores the joint tragedies of both artists' early deaths, adding a poignant layer to the story. For audiences, it offers a rare opportunity to see Morisot's work in direct dialogue with Manet's, elevating her legacy as a painter in her own right.