Red roofs, corner of a village, winter 

Camille Pissarro created this landscape painting, ‘Red roofs, corner of a village, winter’, using oil on canvas. The painting captures a rural scene in France, sometime in the late 19th century. The visible brushstrokes and the emphasis on capturing the effects of light are hallmarks of the Impressionist movement, yet it seems to me Pissarro is more interested in the relationship between the village and the rural landscape. This would have been an era where the French countryside was emptying, as people moved to the city for work. There is a feeling of transition; in the bare trees and dormant fields, you can sense the impact of the seasons and the realities of agricultural life. Pissarro here seems to suggest an alternative to a life of urban alienation. To fully appreciate the social commentary in Pissarro's work, research into 19th-century French rural life and the art market would be useful. Art isn't just about aesthetics; it's a reflection of society.