Pissarro, Camille << pih SAHR oh, ka MEE yuh >> (1830-1903), was a French Impressionist painter. He was the oldest artist of the Impressionist movement. Pissarro was also probably the most popular and respected member among the Impressionists. He influenced the careers of such artists as Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, and Vincent van Gogh.
Pissarro had a modest disposition, which is reflected in his fondness for painting humble rural scenes and landscapes. His short, patchy brushstrokes give vitality to these commonplace scenes. Pissarro’s early paintings emphasize dark tones. He gradually began concentrating on lighter colors, especially after he started to paint outdoors in the late 1860’s. His pictures show greater concern with details of rural life and work than those of most other Impressionists.
Pissarro was born on July 10, 1830, on the island of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. He died on Nov. 13, 1903.
