A Spring Morning (Matinée de printemps)

Artist James Tissot French, 1836 - 1902

Date1875

MediumDrypoint and etching

DimensionsOverall: 24 1/2 × 15 3/16 in. (62.2 × 38.6 cm)
Matboard: 27 7/16 × 17 7/8 in. (69.7 × 45.4 cm)

ClassificationsPrints

Credit LineThe Sparling Family Collection

Object number2025.1.76

On View

On view

SignedBottom right corner of print: "J.J. Tissot 1875"

MarkingsOn front bottom left corner in pencil: "Spring morning" and "Matinee de Printemps"

DescriptionBlack and white print of a woman taking a stroll outside. In the middle ground, a woman stands looking out at the viewer. Her proper right hand is raised to shade her eyes from the sun, and the proper left hand holds a white parasol behind her head. She wears a long-sleeve, full length dress where the skirt is horizontal black and white stripes with a ruffled edge, and the top is vertical black and white stripes. The skirt is pinned up at the sides, right below the woman's hips, likely to keep the skirt from dragging on the ground while she walks. Layered over the top of the dress, the woman wears a shawl, also in the black and white stripe pattern, with a lettuce hem. Atop her head she wears a white dome shaped cap, with a flower pinned on the left side. In the foreground, is a body of water, the reason why the woman stopped where she did. By the right border, reeds spring up from the water, reaching up to the height of the woman's mouth. At the edge of the water, dark black foliage with curved edge leaves fans out and sprout up on branches to the height of the woman's eyes. Floating in the water in the bottom left corner, the outline of five lily pads can be seen along with more reeds poking out. The background behind the woman is black and gray, created by hatch marks curving to the left-hand side.Exhibition History"French Prints from the Tobin Sparling Collection," The Hyde Collection, Hoopes Gallery, Feb. 14-July 26, 2026.Provenance(Swann Auction Galleries Sale, New York City, March 6, 2014, no. 122); purchased by Tobin Sparling, Little Rock, Arkansas, March 6, 2014; given to The Hyde Collection, Glens Falls, New York, 2025.