In the Garden 1902

Camille Pissarro made this painting, In the Garden, using oil paint on canvas. He took up these materials in the late 19th and early 20th century, a time when many artists were exploring painting en plein air, outside. Here, the medium seems essential to the message. The canvas is thickly covered with brushstrokes, creating a textured surface which evokes the density of foliage and freshly-tilled soil. Pissarro uses small, broken strokes, a technique that captures the play of light and shadow on the garden’s many surfaces. Look closely, and you can see how the application of paint mimics the natural processes of growth and decay. We can also consider the social context of this artwork. Pissarro was very interested in representing rural life and the working class in France. So it is important to realize that this painting celebrates the labor that goes into cultivating the land. It challenges our traditional distinctions between fine art and craft by reminding us of the importance of materials, making, and social context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork.