The Large Walnut Tree at Hermitage 1875

Editor: Here we have Pissarro’s "The Large Walnut Tree at Hermitage" from 1875, an oil painting showcasing a rural scene. I’m immediately drawn to the texture of the brushstrokes. It’s quite a departure from the smooth academic paintings that were popular before. What stands out to you about it? Curator: The very visible brushstrokes are key, aren't they? Consider what Pissarro is doing here: painting *en plein air*, directly in the landscape. The materiality of the paint, its application, becomes central. This isn’t about illusionistic representation. It's about the act of painting and its relation to the real, to labor. The rough, unblended pigment reflects not only the visual experience but the physical exertion of producing art in the open air. Editor: So, the 'impression' isn't just visual, it's tactile? Is it also related to the accessibility of art? I mean, using simpler materials compared to more complex sculptures? Curator: Exactly! The rise of pre-mixed paints in tubes made *plein air* painting possible and expanded the availability of making art beyond the confines of the studio. This democratization of materials influences the subject, right? No more grand historical narratives, but the everyday reality and lived experiences of ordinary life. What’s the impact of this subject shift for artists and patrons? Editor: That’s a good point. It’s about making art relatable, capturing transient moments that everyone can experience. This breaks down traditional hierarchies within the art world. I see that by focusing on accessible scenes of nature, Pissarro’s democratizing both art’s production and its consumption. Curator: And also documenting, with materiality and process, the transformation of that landscape through industrial practices and urbanization that are very relevant socio-political markers of this time. Editor: That’s really given me a fresh way to consider Impressionism. Not just fleeting beauty, but also the socioeconomic context shaping it. Curator: Indeed. Examining materials, labour, and environment provides a very nuanced lens through which we might view even the most serene landscape.