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In the 1874 exhibition, Berthe exhibited 9 pieces, of which one was the piece “The Cradle”. As a change to the traditional depiction of Madonna and child, in Berthe’s painting a modern woman is portrayed protecting her child’s sleep. Berthe never portrayed nudes in her art; for her, the night clubs, theaters and the crazy and lawless Parisian world were foreign. The content of her work was bounded by the interests of the women of bourgeoisie families – motherhood, family life, gardens and outings in nature… However, at the same time, she quite delicately includes the emotions and daily life of women, depicting them worried and busy. Some critics are shocked at her perception of such women a vast number of her paintings reflect the virtuous, well-bred woman while at the same time showing some internal fire and charm which is seemingly hidden from the rest of the world. She, with her moderate stance, yet seems to remind the male sex of woman’s unattainability and delicacy.
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