Chiswick Mall 1922

Lucien Pissarro painted this oil on canvas, Chiswick Mall. The painting, built up of small dabs of pigment, reminds us that artmaking is a process, not just a product. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the canvas, carefully placing each mark. The texture is smooth but with visible brushstrokes, particularly in the foreground where the dabs create a mosaic of greens and browns. The paint is applied thinly, allowing the canvas to breathe. Notice how the light dances on the surface of the water, created with short, horizontal strokes that capture its movement. This area contrasts with the more vertical and diagonal strokes used to depict the trees, creating a sense of depth and perspective. Pissarro’s work always felt like an ongoing conversation with his peers. You might see some of Monet in there, but with an added touch of something uniquely his own.