Paule Gobillard was a French painter born on November 8, 1867, in Paris, France. She was closely related to the renowned impressionist painter Berthe Morisot as her niece, and her mother was Morisot's sister, Edma Morisot. She was also the cousin of Julie Manet, the daughter of Berthe Morisot and Eugène Manet, the brother of the famous Édouard Manet. Gobillard grew up in an environment steeped in art and was deeply influenced by the impressionist circle surrounding her family.
Gobillard's early exposure to art came through her aunt, Berthe Morisot, who mentored her and her sister Jeannie. After the death of their parents, the sisters lived with Morisot and Eugène Manet, which further immersed Paule in the art world of Paris. She received informal training from Morisot and was also influenced by the works of Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas, who were regular visitors to the Manet household.
Although Gobillard never achieved the same level of fame as her aunt, she was a dedicated artist in her own right. Her works often depicted domestic scenes, landscapes, and still lifes, characterized by a delicate and sensitive touch with a preference for pastel colors. She exhibited her paintings at the Salon des Indépendants and the Salon d'Automne, which were important venues for avant-garde artists of the time.
During her lifetime, Paule Gobillard remained somewhat in the shadow of her more famous relatives, yet her work was appreciated by those who knew it for its charm and intimacy. She never married and devoted herself entirely to her art and the care of her family, particularly her niece, Julie Manet, after the death of Berthe Morisot.
Paule Gobillard passed away on January 24, 1946, in Paris. Although her work is not widely known today, it contributes to the narrative of the impressionist movement and offers insight into the intimate world of one of art history's most celebrated families.
