Camille Pissarro

Original Prints: Etchings and Lithographs

One of the founding fathers of impressionism, Camille Pissarro (1830 - 1903) was also the most devoted of the impressionists to printmaking.

In the span of nearly 40 years, he produced over two hundred works in the different media, with a clear predilection for etching.

Although he had constant difficulties in selling his etchings, and the most part were never even editioned in his lifetime, he delighted in elaborating a veritable cuisine of the various techniques, some of which he pioneered, in order to capture the subtle effects of light and atmosphere.

Portrait de Cezanne Portrait of Cezanne Delteil 13, Leymarie & Melot 13 etching, 1874, only known state In 1872, Cezanne settled at Auvers-sur-Oise, where he was to work closely with Pissarro, in a friendship evoked by this ruggedly skillful portrait.

Vieille Rue à Rouen : Rue Malpalue Old Street in Rouen: Rue Malpalue Delteil 41, Leymarie & Melot 41 etching, 1883, the 2nd state (of two) Late in 1883, Pissarro travelled to Rouen, inspiring a number of fine etchings of street scenes, this rare print being the very first of a delightful series.

Place de la République à Rouen - Effet de pluie Place de la République in Rouen - Rain Effect Delteil 44, Leymarie & Melot 45 etching with aquatint, 1884, the 2nd state (of two) As Pissarro developped the Rouen series, he experimented new textural techniques, here resulting in a quite impressionistic street scene with remarkable atmospheric effects.

La Rue Damiette à Rouen Rue Damiette in Rouen Delteil 52, Leymarie & Melot 52 etching, 1884, the extremely rare 1st state (of two), before extensive reworking Pissarro's later prints of the Rouen series show rich effects of acid wash, here throwing a narrow street of the old town into deep shade, with the cathedral towering in the background.

Rue du Gros-Horloge à Rouen Rue du Gros-Horloge in Rouen Delteil 54, Leymarie & Melot 43 etching, 1885 (?), the 3rd state (of three) Inspired by Bonington's renowned lithograph of a half century earlier, Pissarro's etching of the Rouen street scene is one of the classic views of the series.

Femme à la Barrière Woman at the Gate Delteil 84, Leymarie & Melot 83 etching, 1889, the definitive state (of ten?) Pissarro often strove to capture everyday life in the country: this etching of a young peasant woman is one of his most appealing prints, which he reworked extensively.

Paysannes dans un Champ de Haricots Peasant Women in a Bean Field Delteil 103, Leymarie & Melot 101 etching, 1891, only known state Pissarro's etchings of the 1890s were almost all devoted to the working women of the countryside, evoking a whole range of everyday activites, here one of the largest and more refined examples of his late printmaking.

Paysans portant du Foin Peasants carrying Hay Delteil 126, Leymarie & Melot 127 drypoint engraving, 1900, the extremely rare 1st state (of seven?), before extensive reworking Pissarro's last engraving, one of the everyday country scenes that he held dear, shows the ease with which he would boldly lay out the subject with drypoint, here in a remarkable working proof with rich burr.

Porteuses de Fagots Women bearing Faggots of Kindling Delteil 153, Leymarie & Melot 174 lithograph, 1896, the only known state Pissarro's long-standing sympathies for the rural proletariat, together with his political commitment to socialist movements, are joined in this fine print, which was a notable contribution to Jean Grave's anarchist journal, Les Temps Nouveaux.        next artist  >