About the Artist
Camille Pissarro (1830–1903), often regarded as the “father” of Impressionism, was born in Saint Thomas (then a Danish territory) to a Jewish family of French-Portuguese descent. Although he spent most of his adult life in France, he retained his Danish citizenship.
Pissarro’s artistic journey began during his school years near Paris and was further shaped by his travels to Venezuela with Danish artist Fritz Melbye in the early 1850s. Returning to France in 1855, he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts, the Louvre, and the Académie Suisse, where he met Paul Cézanne and Claude Monet. By 1870, he exhibited regularly at the Salon and later became a key figure in the Impressionist movement, participating in all eight exhibitions between 1874 and 1886.
Known for his experimental approach, Pissarro transitioned between styles, including Neo-Impressionist pointillism, before returning to a freer Impressionist technique later in life. His works often depicted rural laborers and urban scenes, reflecting his anarchist ideals and concern for social issues.
Despite challenges like dacryocystitis, Pissarro remained prolific, gaining international recognition before his death in 1903. He is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
