Paysanne Couchant 1882

Camille Pissarro created this large oil painting, Paysanne Couchant, sometime around 1882. It depicts a peasant woman resting in a field. Painted in France, this image presents a shift in the art world's focus. Pissarro, influenced by the changing social landscape, chose to represent rural life and labor, moving away from traditional, idealized subjects. The Impressionistic style, with its loose brushwork and emphasis on light, further democratizes the subject, capturing a fleeting moment in the life of a working woman. The late 19th century was a period of significant social and economic change. The rise of industrialization and urbanization led artists like Pissarro to explore the lives of those often overlooked – the rural working class. Through careful examination of the painting's style, subject matter, and historical context, we can gain insight into the changing values and social concerns of the time. Academic journals and archival records of artistic movements can provide further context.