Cagnes Landscape 

Camille Pissarro made this watercolor landscape on paper, capturing a scene in Cagnes. The transparent washes of color give a sense of immediacy, as if Pissarro were trying to catch the fleeting effects of light on the foliage. Consider the material qualities of watercolor: its fluidity and transparency allow for blending and layering of tones. The artist’s quick, loose brushstrokes create a sense of movement and vibrancy, evoking the lushness of the landscape. Watercolor has a long history as a medium for both amateur and professional artists. Its portability made it ideal for working en plein air, a practice embraced by the Impressionists. Pissarro, like his contemporaries, would have valued the immediacy and spontaneity that watercolor allowed. However, watercolors weren’t always considered "serious" art. For centuries, oil paint was prized for its richness and permanence, but Pissarro defied these rigid hierarchies by elevating watercolor to new heights. He demonstrated that profound artistic expression can be achieved with even the simplest of materials.