How Much Is Reading Worth?

Reading is a cornerstone early Morisot from 1873, the year immediately preceding the first Impressionist exhibition, and it was exhibited in that seminal 1874 show under the title La lecture. The subject—an intimate portrayal of her sister Edma—epitomizes Morisot’s most celebrated themes of women in private, lyrical moments. Works from the early 1870s are scarce and form the intellectual and stylistic foundation of her mature oeuvre. The painting’s inclusion in the 1874 exhibition firmly situates it within the birth of Impressionism, heightening both scholarly importance and market desirability. This level of historical primacy is a decisive driver of value and places the work near the apex of her market.

The artist’s record is $10.9m for Après le déjeuner (1881, Christie’s London, 2013). Closest analogues in date and subject—early-1870s figure oils—have realized mid-to-high single-digit millions: Femme et enfant au balcon (1872) at about $5.1m and Cache-cache (1873; shown in 1874) at about $5.2m (historical). Adjusted for inflation and considering Reading’s superior pedigree (prime 1873 date and 1874 exhibition), a current market range of $9–14m is justified, with upside potential under marquee-evening conditions. These comparables demonstrate the market’s willingness to pay premiums for museum-caliber early works with emblematic subjects, and they calibrate Reading close to record territory.

An intimate figure subject—woman reading—is among Morisot’s most commercially desirable themes. The medium (oil on canvas) is her top market category, and the canvas is a substantial, display-ready size (c. 46 × 71.8 cm), large enough to compete on the wall while retaining the immediacy of plein-air-inflected brushwork. The composition’s clarity, atmosphere, and luminous handling align with collectors’ preferences for fully resolved early works. Relative to landscapes or slighter sketches, a signature figure-in-garden composition from 1873 commands a decisive premium. In sum, the subject-matter, medium, and execution quality all point to top-tier desirability.

Reading’s provenance runs through respected private owners and the dealer César de Hauke before acquisition by the Cleveland Museum of Art, signaling long-standing connoisseurship. Its robust exhibition and literature history includes the pivotal 1874 Impressionist show and multiple modern retrospectives, strengthening scholarly and public recognition. A 2023 conservation treatment removed yellowed varnish and revealed compositional adjustments, both supportive of authenticity and enhancing visual impact. Museum-held status underscores the work’s caliber and, from a risk standpoint, implies well-documented condition and care—factors that tend to compress uncertainty and bolster willingness to pay at the high end of the market.