“Jeanne Holding a Fan” is an oil on canvas artwork by Camille Pissarro, dating back to circa 1873. Pissarro, a master of the Impressionist movement, created this piece, which measures 56 by 46.5 centimeters. The painting falls within the genre of portrait and currently resides at the Ashmolean Museum, located in Oxford, UK.
The artwork captures a moment of human presence with an informal intimacy characteristic of Pissarro’s portraits. The subject, presumably named Jeanne, is seated, holding a fan with both hands. Her posture is relaxed yet slightly turned, suggesting a momentary pause from her actions to engage with the viewer. The use of light and shadow on her face and the folds of her dress is rendered with loose brush strokes, distinctive of the Impressionist technique, which seeks to capture the essence of the moment rather than the precise details.
The color palette is subdued, with natural earth tones that convey a sense of warmth and domesticity. The background is sparsely detailed, consisting of what appears to be a wall and a stove, which allows the focus to remain on Jeanne and her contemplative gesture. Pissarro’s touch is evident in the treatment of the light as it interacts with the surfaces and the figure, creating a sense of movement and life that is emblematic of the Impressionist approach to painting.
