The Cowherdess, Eragny 1886

This pencil drawing, titled 'The Cowherdess, Eragny', was made by Camille Pissarro, the Danish-French Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist painter. This sketch depicts a woman standing with her back to us, holding a stick. Pissarro lived in Eragny, France, in the late 19th century, a time of immense social and economic change due to industrialization. Rural life was rapidly transforming, and the traditional roles of women in agriculture were under pressure. Pissarro’s interest in depicting rural laborers such as this cowherdess reflects a broader artistic engagement with the changing social landscape. The impressionists were known for depicting everyday life. Pissarro used visual codes from his era to portray this young woman, highlighting the details of her working life. To understand Pissarro’s work fully, we need to consider the social and economic context of rural France during his time. Historical documents, census records, and agricultural studies can provide insights into the lives and labor of women like the cowherdess. Art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.