Artist Research: Camille Pissarro

Today I'm going to look at Camille Pissarro artworks and how he painted people. Pisarro was a Danish-French painter (1830-1903) he was one of famous painters of impressionism. What is interesting is fact that Pisarroo met Claude Monet during Suisse Painting Academy in 1859 which already I have done artist research with. (impressionistarts.com, n.d.)

First Pissarro painting I'm going to look at is Boulevard Montmartre in springtime and how he painted people n the street. 

Pissarro C, Boulevard Montmartre in springtime 1897

I took this artwork because I'm learning how to paint human figures in landscapes. What is different between my paintings and Pisarro is way how we painted people, I using straight lines which is basic form of painting ,Pissarro using curves lines and shapes, he focused on light and atmosphere . He doesnt paint details but made it by little brushstrokes  - this technique gave life to people and the street.  What I learn is that I dont have to draw every single leg, hand etc. I can place many people in my artwork  just by painting shapes and colours. In the 1890s, when Pissarro finally become famous and get money, he started painting Paris from hotel windows  ,the same streets at different times of day showing how the city changes. (Sidelnikovbut, n.d.)

Second painting im going to look at is Rue Saint-Honoré in the Afternoon. Effect of Rain. it is the same city vibe as before but in the rain. The colours are more grey, people again are small and when I zoom in too look at technique of painting people I saw small brushstokes, in few tones of colour. As state Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza (n.d.) Pissarro painted this painting from a hotel window in central Paris in 1897 when he was sick and old he moved from the country to the city and started painting city streets in rain, sun and in different times of day.

Zoomed part of (Pissarro C, Rue Saint-Honoré in the Afternoon. Effect of Rain 1897)

Pissarro C, Rue Saint-Honoré in the Afternoon. Effect of Rain 1897

After that I started practising painting people as Pissarro 

Pissarro teach me how to paint people in different way, I will keep moving and improve my painting skill.

Reference:

impressionistarts.com. (n.d.). Camille Pissarro | ImpressionistArts. [online] Available at: https://impressionistarts.com/camille-pissarro-biography [Accessed 26 May 2025].

Sidelnikovbut, A. (n.d.). Montmartre Boulevard. Spring morning. [online] Arthive. Available at: https://arthive.com/camillepissarro/works/376955~Montmartre_Boulevard_Spring_morning [Accessed 26 May 2025].

Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza. (n.d.). Rue Saint-Honoré in the Afternoon. Effect of Rain. [online] Available at: https://www.museothyssen.org/en/collection/artists/pissarro-camille/rue-saint-honore-afternoon-effect-rain [Accessed 26 May 2025].