The Effect of Sunlight 

Camille Pissarro made this watercolor painting, The Effect of Sunlight, to capture a transient atmospheric moment. The composition organizes the landscape into horizontal bands, unified by the diffuse, all-encompassing light. Pissarro employs a limited palette, primarily soft greens, pinks, and blues, to create a sense of harmony and tranquility. Notice how the brushstrokes are loose and broken, suggesting movement and the fleeting quality of light. The sun, rendered as a soft, diffused orb, dominates the upper register, casting a warm glow across the scene. Pissarro's interest lay not in the meticulous depiction of detail but in the overall effect of light and atmosphere on the landscape. The blurring of edges and dissolving of forms reflect Impressionist concerns with capturing subjective experience. Here, the formal structure supports an exploration into the changing perceptions of nature.