Landscape at Pontoise 2 1873

Camille Pissarro made this landscape at Pontoise with pastels, a medium that allowed for both precision and spontaneity. Unlike oil paint, which can be blended and reworked extensively, pastel demands a more direct approach. Each stroke of color is laid down with intention, building up the image layer by layer. Look closely, and you'll see how Pissarro used this quality to his advantage. The texture of the paper support remains visible, lending a sense of immediacy and freshness to the scene. Pastels, while associated with Impressionism, also have a connection to earlier traditions of drawing and sketching. The soft, powdery pigment allowed Pissarro to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere, while also maintaining a sense of structure and form. The choice of pastels as a medium reflects a desire to engage with the landscape in a direct and unmediated way, embracing the inherent qualities of the material to convey the beauty and vitality of the natural world.