Born in 1841 in a wealthy bourgeois family in Bourges, Berthe Morisot benefited from an early artistic education thanks to her mother's influence, who encouraged her musical and artistic talents. Despite the prohibition for women to attend the Beaux-Arts until 1897, Berthe and her two sisters practiced by copying the works of great masters at the Louvre.

It was there that she met Édouard Manet, a pivotal encounter. He became her mentor and teacher, even creating many portraits of the young artist. Their bond grew strong, significantly influencing Morisot's artistic development.

After her marriage, Edma Morisot almost completely abandoned painting, to the great dismay of her sister, who steadfastly refused to devote her life to a man. In 1874, after their father's death, Berthe eventually married Eugène Manet, the brother of Édouard; Eugène was a great support for his wife, spending a lot of time accompanying her and promoting her work.

It was also during this period that Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Degas, and Morisot founded the Société Anonyme des Artistes Peintres, Sculpteurs et Graveurs, which allowed the artists of the Impressionist movement to freely exhibit their works, outside the official Salon venues.