Young Peasant Girls Resting in the Fields near Pontoise 1882

Camille Pissarro made this painting using oil paint on canvas, a common combination for his time. However, his application is anything but conventional. Look closely, and you will see that the artist has not blended his colors smoothly, but rather applied countless tiny dabs of pigment. This gives the surface a vibrant, almost shimmering quality, as if light itself is woven into the scene. The effect is particularly noticeable in the girls' clothing, the surrounding vegetation, and the idyllic meadows in the background, which have been created with a myriad of strokes. It’s important to remember that paintings like this took a long time to complete. Pissarro’s method emphasized a careful observation, and the labor-intensive application of paint, in order to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. Through his chosen material and technique, Pissarro elevates the status of rural laborers, portraying them as an integral part of the landscape. In doing so, he invites us to reconsider the value of manual work, both on and off the canvas.