Camille Pissarro

Jacob Abraham Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) was a Danish-French Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist painter born on the island of St Thomas (now in the US Virgin Islands, but then in the Danish West Indies). He later moved to France. His importance resides in his contributions to both Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. 

Pissarro studied from great forerunners, including Gustave Courbet and Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot.  Pissarro’s work is characterised by his innovative approach to capturing light and atmosphere, employing loose brush strokes and a vibrant palette that evokes a sense of immediacy.

After the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, having only Danish nationality and unable to join the army, he moved his family to Norwood, then a village on the edge of London. In 1871 in Croydon, England, he married his mother's maid, Julie Vellay, a vineyard grower's daughter, with whom he had seven children, six of whom would become painters.

When Pissarro returned to his home in France after the war, he discovered that of the 1,500 paintings he had done over 20 years, which he was forced to leave behind when he moved to London, only 40 remained. The rest had been damaged or destroyed by the soldiers, who often used them as floor mats outside in the mud to keep their boots clean.

Throughout his career, Pissarro was deeply committed to painting outdoors, often called plein air painting. This method allowed him to capture the nuances of natural light as it changed throughout the day. His focus was not only on landscapes but also on the lives of ordinary people, illustrating scenes of rural life and urban settings in a way that celebrated their beauty and simplicity.

Pissarro played a crucial role in the development of Impressionism, often acting as a mentor to other artists, including Paul Cézanne. His collaborative spirit and willingness to share ideas were instrumental in the establishment of the Impressionist exhibitions, where he showcased his work alongside that of his contemporaries.

Pissarro embraced Pointillism later in his career, experimenting with colour and form to create a new visual language. He studied and worked alongside Georges Seurat and Paul Signac when he took on the Neo-Impressionist style at the age of 54. 

In his old age Pissarro suffered from a recurring eye infection that prevented him from working outdoors except in warm weather. As a result of this disability, he began painting outdoor scenes while sitting by the window of hotel rooms. He often chose hotel rooms on upper levels to get a broader view. He moved around northern France and painted from hotels in Rouen, Paris, Le Havre and Dieppe. On his visits to London, he would do the same.

Pissarro died in Paris on 13 November 1903 and was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery.