The Port of Dieppe 1902

Camille Pissarro painted The Port of Dieppe with oils on canvas, in 1902. Pissarro approaches this harbour scene with short, choppy brushstrokes, like he’s knitting the scene together. There’s a real sense of process here, a feeling that the painting is made up of lots of little decisions and gestures. Look at the way Pissarro uses colour; it's all about texture. Thick daubs of paint capture the light on the water. I love the way the reddish buildings in the foreground contrast with the soft grey sky. Zoom in on the little figures on the dock - they are rendered with a few flicks of the brush, yet they feel so alive. It's like he is saying, "I’m here, painting, observing the world." Pissarro’s work reminds me a bit of Cezanne. Both were interested in capturing the world in a way that wasn't just about representation. It’s about the act of painting itself.