The artwork “Afternoon, Sun, the Inner Harbor, Dieppe” is an oil on canvas painting by Camille Pissarro, a prominent figure of the Impressionist movement. Created in 1902, the piece measures 65.5 by 81.3 centimeters and is currently part of a private collection. The genre of the painting is classified as a cityscape, which depicts the vibrant atmosphere of the Dieppe harbor.
The artwork presents a bustling scene set in the vivacious harbor of Dieppe. The use of light and color captures the shimmering effect of sunlight on the water and the leisurely mood of an afternoon by the sea. The composition is bustling with activity; boats, adorned with sails that catch the wind and sun, navigate the harbor waters, while figures congregate near the water’s edge, adding a sense of liveliness and human interest to the scene.
Pissarro’s brushwork is both dynamic and loose, imbuing the scene with a sense of immediacy and the flickering quality of light that is characteristic of Impressionist painting. The skyline of Dieppe is discernible in the background, contributing to the authenticity of the location while also exemplifying the Impressionist preoccupation with capturing the atmospheric conditions of a particular moment in time. This artwork is a testament to Pissarro’s skill in rendering the transient effects of light on the landscape and the vitality of urban life at the turn of the 20th century.
