Pontoise 1874

Camille Pissarro made this watercolor painting, entitled "Pontoise," in France, during the late nineteenth century. This was a period when many artists were turning their attention from historical and allegorical subjects to the depiction of everyday life and the natural world. Pissarro was deeply interested in the representation of rural landscapes and the lives of peasants, and this picture is typical of his work in its focus on the ordinary. He returned often to paint Pontoise, a small town northwest of Paris. Here, the image creates meaning through its depiction of a specific place, and the way in which the artist captures the light and atmosphere of that place. The loose brushwork and muted colors give the painting a sense of immediacy and spontaneity, as if it were painted en plein air. Understanding the social conditions that shape artistic production is key to understanding the meaning of art. Art history relies on the study of many sources, including letters, diaries, and other archival materials. By placing art in its social and institutional context, we can begin to understand its full significance.