Self Portrait 1900

Here is a self-portrait of Camille Pissarro, rendered in oil paint and likely dating towards the end of the 19th century. The paint is applied in thick strokes, or impasto, giving a sense of texture to the canvas. Look at the way the artist built up the surface of the beard, capturing its volume and giving it a tangible presence. Note also the rough texture and earthen hues of his coat, compared to the brighter colors used on his face. Pissarro seems to have been particularly interested in the material qualities of paint, and in the expressive potential of its application. While he was of course a highly skilled artist, what's truly significant is his willingness to embrace a certain level of roughness in his work, elevating the status of the materials and the labor involved in their transformation. In doing so, Pissarro challenged conventional notions of artistic refinement, showing us how much meaning can be found in the making itself.