Portrait of Ludovic Rodo Pissarro 1892

Camille Pissarro made this ink drawing, *Portrait of Ludovic Rodo Pissarro*, to capture his son, Ludovic. Pissarro, a key figure in Impressionism, often explored themes of family and everyday life, reflecting the movement’s focus on the personal and the contemporary. Here, Ludovic is depicted as a young man, slouched in a chair, with a thoughtful, perhaps melancholic gaze. This informal, intimate portrayal departs from the traditional, formal portraiture styles of the time. There is a strong sense of connection between father and son, artist and subject. The quick, gestural lines evoke a sense of fleeting time, of capturing a momentary feeling or expression. Pissarro, who was deeply committed to anarchism, viewed art as a means of challenging conventional social norms and expressing solidarity with the working class. This drawing, through its intimate portrayal of his son, reflects a deeply personal yet universally relatable experience of familial connection.