May 1871: Bloody Week and Morisot's Transformation Into a Professional Artist. Sebastian Smee discusses how the Commune began to fall when French government forces returned to retake the city, resulting in Bloody Week in May 1871. The civil conflict was atrociously violent, with the Communards retreating street by street and systematically burning important Parisian buildings. The atmosphere was toxic, resulting in summary executions on a massive scale. Berthe Morisot and her family witnessed the smoke and were stunned by the devastation upon returning. The traumatic events had a profound effect on Morisot, intensifying her resolve to carve out a career as a professional painter—a radical decision for a woman of her background. In subsequent years, Morisot emerged from Manet's shadow, becoming more radical and innovative in her subject matter.
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