Autumn Morning 1892

Camille Pissarro painted this oil on canvas, entitled ‘Autumn Morning’, in France at the end of the nineteenth century. Pissarro was known as a mentor to younger impressionist painters and the Impressionists were concerned to represent the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. Here, Pissarro’s preoccupation with the optical effects of color, and his loose brushwork are clear to see. The Impressionists challenged the dominance of the French academy in painting, whose members favoured historical and allegorical subject matter. Instead, they were interested in painting the realities of the world around them. Although this artwork doesn't directly critique the institutions of art, it suggests that everyday life is a worthy subject. By paying close attention to the aesthetic qualities of ordinary landscapes, Pissarro elevates the status of the rural world. The interpretation of art is always contingent on social and institutional context. To understand this painting better, you might research the history of the French academy and the Impressionist movement.