The Pont Neuf, Afternoon 1901

Camille Pissarro painted ‘The Pont Neuf, Afternoon’ sometime in the late 1890s with oil on canvas, capturing a view of Parisian life. I love the way the painting feels so grounded in the physical act of its making. You can see each stroke, each dab of color laid down with intention. The texture is wonderful, it’s almost like you can feel the grain of the canvas beneath the paint. Pissarro’s use of color here is so subtle, so nuanced. Look at the way he captures the light reflecting off the water – it’s not just blue, it’s a whole symphony of greens, yellows, and purples. It’s like he’s not just painting what he sees, but how it feels to be there, on that bridge, in that moment. Notice the tiny figures that make up the crowd on the bridge. Each one is just a few strokes of paint, but together they create this incredible sense of movement and energy. Pissarro reminds me of Bonnard, also a master of capturing fleeting moments and everyday scenes with a similar eye for detail and color. But ultimately, Pissarro’s work stands alone, a testament to his unique vision and his commitment to capturing the beauty of the world around him.