Kensington Gardens, London 1890

Camille Pissarro painted Kensington Gardens with oil on canvas, during his time in London. Pissarro was part of a generation of artists who found themselves in London as a result of the Franco-Prussian War, a time of great upheaval and displacement. Here, the gardens are depicted as a space of leisure, populated by the bourgeoisie. What strikes me most is how Pissarro captures the nuances of social class through the figures he paints. While the figures in the foreground are captured with detail, the ones in the background are more vaguely captured, perhaps suggesting the subtle yet ever-present class divisions of Victorian society. The brushstrokes and the soft, muted tones evoke a sense of tranquility, even as one is reminded of the socio-political context in which this scene unfolds. Pissarro offers us a glimpse into a world of privilege, inviting us to reflect on its broader implications.