Camille Pissaro

French-Danish Impressionist

Amongst the innovative artists of the Impressionist movement I found myself captivated by the work of Camille Pissaro. It is the combination of the dappled brushstrokes along with his use of longer lines and shapes to set the scene. These two aspects together encapsulates the ideals of these artists. 

No longer interested in rendering exactly what was observable to them, they were intrigued by the challenge of capturing their emotional experience through their paintings. Time wiggled its way into the subject matter of Pissaro as he captured scenes “en plain air”. The feelings that occur throughout the time of painting the scene are permitted to drift from artist to hand, to brush and onto the canvas. The forms become loose and the experience of watching the movement of life is shown in Camille Pissaro’s pieces.

Thoughtful Painter

Humans are not static creatures and neither are our experiences, and the impressionists were brave in their attempts to express themselves through painting. In my experience of Pissaro’s work I find him to appear as a contemplative and reserved individual. This seems evident in his somber features shown in his self portraiture. His expression shines through these vaguely shaped eyes hidden behind the shadow of his cap.

French Boulevards and Countrysides

The same attention to emotion is evident to me in his depictions of the beautiful French boulevards or in the countryside paintings he crafted throughout every season. I notice in me a sense of being a quiet observer. The city street bustles with people milling about, the leisurely spring day in the park, and the riverboats with their captains conversing on the bow.

The long strokes of buildings, trees and the river give structure to the scene and transport me to the framework. While the spots of colour overlapping feel like the buildings and landscape itself are breathing.

The word Impression fits like a perfect puzzle piece in the worlds that Camille Pissaro shapes with his paintings.