Camille Pissarro was one of the most influential members of the French Impressionist movement and the only artist to participate in all eight Impressionist exhibitions.
Born in July of 1830 on the island of Saint Thomas in the Danish West Indies, Camille was the son of Frédéric and Rachel Pissarro. At the age of 12, he went to school in Paris, where he displayed a penchant for drawing. He returned again to Paris in 1855, having convinced his parents to allow him to pursue a career as an artist rather than work in the family import/export business. Camille studied at the Académie Suisse alongside Claude Monet, and, during this time, he met Paul Cézanne, Édouard Manet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
In 1869, Camille settled in Louveciennes. The outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 prompted him to move to England, and, with Monet, Camille painted a series of landscapes around Norwood and Crystal Palace, while studying English landscape painting in the museums. Upon returning a year later at the end of the War to Louveciennes, Camille discovered that only 40 of his 1,500 paintings — almost 20 years’ work — remained undamaged.
Camille settled in Pontoise in the summer of 1871, remaining there and gathering a close circle of friends around him for the next 10 years. He reestablished relationships with Cézanne, Manet, Monet, Renoir and Edgar Degas, expressing his desire to create an alternative to the Salon, so that their group could display their own unique styles. Camille married Julie Vellay, with whom he would have seven children. Cézanne repeatedly came to stay with them, and, under Camille’s influence, he learned to study nature more patiently, even copying one of Camille’s landscapes in order to learn his teacher’s technique.
The first Impressionist group exhibition, initiated by Monet in 1874, earned the Impressionists much criticism for their art. While mainly interested in landscape, Camille introduced people — generally, peasants going about their rural occupations — and animals into his works, and they often became the focal point of the composition. It was this unsentimental and realistic approach, with the complete absence of any pretense, which seemed to stop his work from finding appreciation in the general public.
One of the few collectors who did show interest in Camille’s work was a bank employee named Paul Gauguin, who, after acquiring a small collection of Impressionist works, turned to Camille for advice on becoming a painter himself. For several years, Gauguin closely followed his mentor, and, although their friendship was fraught with disagreement and misunderstandings, Gauguin still wrote shortly before Camille’s death in 1906: “He was one of my masters, and I do not deny him.”
In the 1880s, Camille moved from Pontoise to nearby Osny, before Eragny, a small village much further from Paris. At a time when he was dissatisfied with his work, in 1885, Camille met both Paul Signac and Georges Seurat. He was fascinated by their efforts to replace the intuitive perceptive approach of the Impressionists with a “Divisionist” method, or scientific study of nature’s phenomena based on optical laws. Despite having reached his mid-50s, Camille did not hesitate to follow the two young innovators. The following year, he passed on this new concept to Vincent Van Gogh, who had just arrived in Paris and was keen to learn of the most recent developments in art. However, after a few years, Camille felt restricted by Seurat’s theories and returned to his more spontaneous technique while retaining the lightness and purity of color acquired during his Divisionist phase.
In the last years of his life, Camille divided his time between Paris, Rouen, Le Havre and Eragny, painting several series of different aspects of these cities, with varying light and weather effects. Many of these paintings are considered among his best and make for an apt finale to his long and prodigious career.
When Camille Pissarro died in the autumn of 1903, he had finally started to gain public recognition. Today his work can be found in many of the most important museums and collections throughout the world.
Find original Camille Pissarro art on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Stern Pissarro Gallery)
$298,500
Shepherd and Shepherdess at the Gate, Bazincourt by Camille Pissarro
By Camille Pissarro
Located in New Orleans, LA
Camille Pissarro 1830-1903 French Berger et bergère à la barrière, Bazincourt (Shepherd and Shepherdess at the Gate, Bazincourt) Stamped "C.P." (lower left) Gouache and wash on pa...
Paper, Gouache
The Harvesters' Rest by Camille Pissarro
By Camille Pissarro
Located in New Orleans, LA
Camille Pissarro 1830-1903 French Le Repos des moissonneurs (The Harvesters' Rest) Stamped "C.P." (lower left) Gouache, watercolor and charcoal on paper Among Camille Pissarro’s ...
Paper, Charcoal, Watercolor, Gouache
$1,463Sale Price|24% Off
Vachère au Bord de l'Eau
By Camille Pissarro
Located in Santa Monica, CA
CAMILLE PISSARRO (French 1830-1903) VACHERE au BORD de l’EAU 1890 (Delteil 93 viii/viii) Etching, unsigned as published in “Gazette des Beaux Arts”, Paris, 1890. On laid paper Very...
Drypoint, Etching
Paysage avec batteuse a Montfoucault
By Camille Pissarro
Located in Palm Desert, CA
"Paysage avec batteuse a Montfoucault (Landscape with Thresher at Montfoucault)" is a pastel by French Impressionist Camille Pissarro. The artwork is signed lower right, "C. Pissarro". The framed piece measures 20 1/2 x 25 x 2 3/4 in. Camille Pissarro was born on July 10th 1830 on the Caribbean Island of St. Thomas. He live...
Paper, Pastel, Board
$3,426
Portrait of a man wearing a bowler hat by Camille Pissarro - Drawing, Charcoal
By Camille Pissarro
Located in London, GB
*PLEASE NOTE UK BUYERS WILL ONLY PAY 5% VAT ON THIS PURCHASE. Once an order is placed we will arrange the VAT of 20% to be reduced to 5% Portrait of a man wearing a bowler hat by Ca...
Paper, Charcoal
Camille Pissarro Etching on Paper, Modern, Unsigned, 1906, Framed, Les Faneuses
By Camille Pissarro
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Camille Pissarro Title: Les Faneuses Portfolio: l'Histoire des Peintres Impressionistes Medium: Etching on cream laid paper Date: 1906 Edition: 1000 Frame Size: 19 1/2" x 17"...
Etching
Portraits of Men and Women by Camille Pissarro - Drawing, work on paper, art
By Camille Pissarro
Located in London, GB
Portraits of Men and Women by Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) Charcoal on paper 11.3 x 11.4 cm (4 ¹/₂ x 4 ¹/₂ inches) Stamped with initials upper left, C.P. This work is accompanied by...
Paper, Charcoal
L’île Lacroix, à Rouen
By Camille Pissarro
Located in New York, NY
Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), L’île Lacroix, à Rouen, etching, aquatint, maniere grise, drypoint, burnishing, c. 1887. Signed and numbered (No. 1) in pencil lower left, annotated 1er...
Drypoint, Etching, Aquatint
"Marche a la Volaille, a Gisors, " Original figurative Etching signed
By Camille Pissarro
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Marche a la Volaille, a Gisors" is an original etching by Camille Pissarro. It depicts a dense crowd in black and white. This is edition 34/43 from Loys Delteil 98, 2nd State. 14" ...
Etching
"Vachere au Bord de l'Eau" original etching on japon paper
By Camille Pissarro
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: original etching and drypoint. This rare and beautiful impression on japon paper is one of 50 printed for the deluxe edition of the Gazette des Beaux Arts. Published in Paris...
Etching
"Marché aux Légumes, à Pontoise" original etching
By Camille Pissarro
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: original etching and and aquatint with drypoint. Catalogue reference: Delteil 97. Executed in 1891, this lovely impression is from the edition on cream wove paper published i...
Etching
Marche aux Legumes a Pontoise
By Camille Pissarro
Located in Santa Monica, CA
CAMILLE PISSARRO (French 1830- 1903) MARCHE AUX LEGUMES A PONTOISE, 1891 (D. 97ii/ii) Etching and aquatint, Unsigned as published in Le Peintre-graveur Illlustre: Pissarro, Sisley,...
Aquatint
"Paysans portant du foin" original etching
By Camille Pissarro
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: original etching and drypoint. Catalogue reference Delteil 126. Printed on laid paper in 1900 and published in Paris by Henri Floury as the frontispiece for Gustave Geffroy's...
Etching
Au marché by Camille Pissarro - Work on paper, crayon, paper, Impressionist art
By Camille Pissarro
Located in London, GB
Au marché by Camille Pissarro (1884-1903) Black crayon on paper 19 x 16 cm (7 ¹/₂ x 6 ¹/₄ inches) Stamped lower left, C.P. (Lugt 613) This work is accompanied by a letter confirming...
Paper, Crayon
Return to the Village by Moonlight by Camille Pissarro
By Camille Pissarro
Located in New Orleans, LA
Camille Pissarro 1830-1903 French Le Retour au village au clair de lune (Éragny) (Return to the Village by Moonlight (Éragny)) Signed and dated "Camille Pissarro 86" (lower left) ...
Silk, Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
Paysannes Assises by Camille Pissarro
By Camille Pissarro
Located in New Orleans, LA
Camille Pissarro 1830-1903 French Paysannes assises (Seated Peasant Women) Signed "C Pissarro" (lower left) Crayon on paper This intimate work by Camille Pissarro represents a pe...
Paper, Crayon
Grand'mère - Portrait de la femme de l'artiste - Lithograph 1895
By Camille Pissarro
Located in Roma, IT
Hand Signed in pencil lower right, titled lower left, inscribed “N°2”. On Chine Appliqué paper, one of only 10 known impressions Catalogue Prouté 1973 n.179. Prov. Paul Prouté, Paris...
Lithograph
Le Pont de Pierre, a Rouen
By Camille Pissarro
Located in New York, NY
Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), Le Pont de Pierre, a Rouen, etching and drypoint, 1887. Reference: Delteil 66, second state (of 2). Signed lower right in pencil, annotated lower left ...
Drypoint, Etching
Narrow Street in Rouen (Petite Rue Nationale, a Rouen)
By Camille Pissarro
Located in New York, NY
Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), Narrow Street in Rouen (Petite Rue Nationale, a Rouen), etching, drypoint, maniere grise, aquatint, 1896, signed in pencil lower right, numbered (No 6) ...
Drypoint, Etching, Aquatint
COUPLE DE PAYSANS
By Camille Pissarro
Located in Portland, ME
Pissarro, Camille. COUPLE DE PAYSANS. D.125. Etching and aquatint on laid paper. Unsigned. From the posthumous edition of 10 printed in 1923. 4 3/4 x 3 1/8 inches, 118 x 78 mm. (plat...
Etching, Aquatint
Fête du Jubilé de la Reine à Bedford Park, Londres
By Camille Pissarro
Located in New York, NY
A superb, dark and evenly-printed impression of this very scarce lithograph by Camille Pissarro and George W. Thornley. Printed in light brown on Chine appliqué. The deluxe edition o...
Lithograph
Paysanne au Puits (Peasant Woman at the Well)
By Camille Pissarro
Located in New York, NY
Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), Paysanne au Puits (Peasant Woman at the Well), etching and aquatint, 1891, signed, titled and numbered (3 etat no 2). Refer...
Etching, Aquatint
$10,150
19th century black and white etching aquatint outdoors figurative animal print
By Camille Pissarro
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Vachere au Bord de L'Eau" is an original etching and aquatint by Camille Pissarro, the 8th state. It can be found in the catalogue raisonne Delteil #93. It features a woman sitting ...
Etching, Aquatint
Paysanne Donnant a Manger a un Enfant
By Camille Pissarro
Located in New York, NY
Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), Paysanne Donnant a Manger a un Enfant, etching on zinc, 1874, signed in pencil lower right and inscribed lower left “No 1 – 1er etat”, also titled in p...
Epoxy Resin
Grand-mere (effet de lumiere)
By Camille Pissarro
Located in New York, NY
Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), Grand-mere (effet de lumiere), etching and drypoint, 1889, signed in pencil lower right, titled lower left, inscribed “No 3 – ...
Drypoint, Etching
Enfants Causant (Children Talking)
By Camille Pissarro
Located in New York, NY
Camille Pissarro (1831-1903), etching, 1889, signed, titled and inscribed “No. 6 Epreuve de Artiste.” Reference: Delteil 89, third state (of 3). On tan laid paper. In good condition...
Etching
Paysannes Dans un Champ de Haricots
By Camille Pissarro
Located in New York, NY
Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), Paysannes Dans un Champ de Haricots, etching, aquatint, maniere grise; 1891, titled, signed, annotated 1er etat no. 10, also marked with a large Z by th...
Etching, Aquatint
Femme a la Barriere (Woman at the Gate)
By Camille Pissarro
Located in New York, NY
Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), Femme a la Barriere (Woman at the Gate), etching and drypoint, 1889, signed in pencil with the initials CP lower right (annotated “imprime par C.P.”), a...
Drypoint, Etching
$4,250
Grand’mère (effet de lumière) (La Mère de l’artiste) by Camille Pissarro
By Camille Pissarro
Located in London, GB
Grand’mère (effet de lumière) (La Mère de l’artiste) by Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) Etching 17.1 x 25.3 cm (6 ³/₄ x 10 inches) Stamped lower right, C.P. an...
Etching
Price Upon Request
La Briqueterie Delafolie à Éragny - Impressionist Oil on Canvas Painting, 1884
By Camille Pissarro
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Camille Pissarro’s "La Briqueterie Delafolie à Éragny (1884") offers a vivid rural scene from Éragny. The painting has never been to auction, instead gracing numerous exhibitions in ...
Canvas, Oil