Scene de rue, Lisieux 1901

Here is an audio guide script for the artwork provided: This sketch, “Scene de rue, Lisieux,” was drawn by Camille Pissarro with graphite on paper. Here, we observe the bustling street scene and the repetition of similar shapes, which evokes a sense of rhythm and unity. Notice how the figures are rendered with quick, repetitive strokes, blurring the distinction between individual and crowd. The motif of the crowd has long served as a powerful symbol, resonating from ancient depictions of communal rituals to modern images of political gatherings. Consider, for example, the shift in meaning from the unified chorus in Greek tragedies, expressing collective emotion, to its use in propaganda, where individual identity is subsumed. The street-level perspective puts the viewer in the midst of the crowd, engaging us psychologically. The evolution of the crowd motif reflects our changing understanding of community and the individual's role within it. What does this tell us about the non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols, how they resurface, evolve, and acquire new meanings in different historical contexts?