Camille Pissarro’s commitment to painting and drawing landscapes and cityscapes directly from life long preceded the rise of Impressionism, and he worked out of doors for decades in both urban and rural settings in France and Britain. Later in life, however, he was plagued by a recurring eye infection that prevented him from working outdoors except in warm weather. Determined to continue painting from life, he adapted to working indoors, positioning himself before a window through which he could study his subject without discomfort. The high vantage point used in this view of the gently rolling farmland surrounding the village of Eragny in Normandy, where he had lived since 1884, suggests that he took this approach here, perhaps observing the scene from the first floor of a house. Clear pencil strokes structure the composition and sparingly indicate the main motifs, such as bushes, a group of houses on the right and a long fence in the centre which creates a sense of depth. A few bold dabs of strong colour help to convey the sparkling light of a winter landscape, with the white of the untouched paper representing snow in contrast to the pale yellow wash of the sky.

Miss Dorothy Scharf, London (1942-2004); Scharf Bequest 2007

Drawings Gallery Display - Drawing Together, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 30/09/2017-02/01/2018

The Courtauld Collects - 20 Years of Acquisitions, Somerset House & London & England, 17/06/2010-19/09/2010 ...More

The Courtauld Gallery and Thomas, Ben. Drawing Together (London: Courtauld Gallery, 2017-2018)
pp. 8, 12
ill. on p. 15

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Inscription: Recto: lower left, black chalk, signed by the artist: "C. Pissarro"; lower right corner, black chalk, artist's hand: "Eragny (Gisors)".

Collector's mark: none.