Oil painting -> List of Painters ->Camille Pissarro

Camille Pissarro

Camille Pissarro

 

Personal Details

Name

Camille Pissarro

Place of Birth

Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas), Virgin Islands

Date of Birth

10 July 1830

Date of Death

13 November 1903

Field

Painting

Nationality

French

Movement

Impressionist



Career:

   His finest early works (See Jalais Hill, Pontoise, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York) are characterized by a broadly painted (sometimes with palette knife) naturalism derived from Courbet, but with an incipient Impressionist palette.

   Pissarro married Julie Vellay, a maid in his mother's household. Of their eight children, one died at birth and one daughter died aged nine. The surviving children all painted, and Lucien, the oldest son, became a follower of William Morris.

   Works Of Camille Pissarro:

Work don by Camille Pissarro

Work done by Camille Pissarro

 

Camille Pissarro (1830–1903) was a Danish-French Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist painter, often referred to as the "father of Impressionism." Born on the island of St. Thomas (now part of the U.S. Virgin Islands), Pissarro's artistic journey spanned several decades and played a pivotal role in the development of modern art. Pissarro's early exposure to art came through the guidance of Fritz Melbye, a Danish painter who resided on St. Thomas. In 1855, Pissarro moved to Paris, where he came into contact with prominent artists and absorbed the prevailing artistic trends of the time.

His interactions with artists like Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and Gustave Courbet influenced his early works, which were characterized by Realist tendencies. The turning point in Pissarro's career came when he met and befriended the young Impressionist painters, including Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Alfred Sisley. Pissarro embraced the Impressionist movement's principles, which involved capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere through loose brushwork and a vibrant palette. Pissarro's contributions to the Impressionist exhibitions were significant. His landscapes, rural scenes, and depictions of daily life in the French countryside exemplified the movement's commitment to capturing the immediacy of nature.

Works like "The Côte des Boeufs at L'Hermitage, Pontoise" and "Hoar Frost, the Old Road to Ennery, Pontoise" showcase Pissarro's ability to convey the subtle nuances of light and weather. A distinctive aspect of Pissarro's career was his unwavering commitment to experimentation and artistic evolution. Unlike some of his fellow Impressionists who adhered more strictly to the movement's tenets, Pissarro continued to explore new techniques and styles throughout his life. This willingness to embrace change is evident in his transition to Neo-Impressionism in the 1880s. Under the influence of Georges Seurat and Paul Signac, Pissarro adopted the Neo-Impressionist technique known as Pointillism or Divisionism. This method involved applying small, distinct dots or strokes of pure color to the canvas, which would optically blend when viewed from a distance.

Works like "Haymakers Resting (Study for Haymakers at Work)" showcase Pissarro's adeptness at the Divisionist technique. Pissarro's artistic vision extended beyond the canvas; he was a key figure in organizing and participating in Impressionist exhibitions, playing a central role in fostering the movement. His mentorship of younger artists, including Paul Cézanne and Paul Gauguin, had a lasting impact on the development of modern art. During the later years of his career, Pissarro's focus shifted to urban scenes, particularly in Paris and its suburbs. Paintings like "Place du Théâtre Français: Fog Effect" and "Pont Boieldieu in Rouen, Rainy Weather" display his continued fascination with capturing the atmospheric effects of light and weather, now in an urban context. Camille Pissarro's life and career were not without challenges.

The Franco-Prussian War and its aftermath forced him to seek refuge in London, where he continued to paint and was introduced to British art. His resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity contributed to the breadth and depth of his artistic output. Camille Pissarro passed away on November 13, 1903, in Paris. His legacy endures not only through his own paintings but through the generations of artists he influenced. Pissarro's dedication to artistic experimentation, his commitment to capturing the essence of nature, and his role in shaping the Impressionist movement collectively establish him as a pivotal figure in the history of modern art.