Old Houses at Eragny 1884

Camille Pissarro painted these Old Houses at Eragny with oil on canvas at an unknown date. In it, we see a humble scene of village life, but consider its place within a rapidly changing France. Painted in the countryside outside Paris, this image evokes a traditional and timeless rural existence. We can see the influence of Impressionism in Pissarro’s brushstrokes, and this style was initially considered radical, even offensive, by the artistic establishment in France. Pissarro and his colleagues set up their own venues to show work rejected by the official Salon. They challenged academic conventions and thus played a critical role in changing how art was taught and consumed. To fully understand this work, we might consult exhibition reviews, letters from the artist, and records of the Impressionist group to learn more. The history of art is a complex web of institutions, individuals, and social forces that all influence what we see.