Camille Pissarro’s Boulevard Montmartre: Morning, Grey Weather is a highly acclaimed painting that captures the hustle and bustle of the Parisian street. Painted in 1897, it is an impressively large oil-on-canvas painting measuring 73 x 92 cm. Now on display at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne, Australia, it was gifted to them by Katrin S. Vietor and named after Ernest G. Vietor in 1960 with the accession number 60.174. This painting demonstrates Pissarro’s unique style of Impressionism as he uses both thick brush strokes and a smoky haze to create a gloomy atmosphere on a rainy morning in Paris.
The sunless sky casts a somber backdrop for figures and carriages that traverse along the cobblestone road of Montmartre and yet, people flow about with splendid colors that break up the monochrome painting. From women walking under umbrellas only partially blocking out the drizzle from above to workers carting and selling wares, it appears that life continues regardless of deteriorating weather circumstances outside. The subtle blues, greys and greens heighten this dreary yet beautiful scene surrounded by small grey homes at one end and dense trees with dark cities at the other end – no doubt creating a captivating experience for viewers when they gaze upon this artwork today.
Boulevard Montmartre: Afternoon, Sunshine is another beautiful oil painting created by Camille Pissarro in 1897 depicting similar characters going about their day but during pleasant weather instead. Its bright colors wave away all signs of gloominess present in its predecessor – undoubtedly making fond memories for viewers who admire both pieces of art side-by-side.
