The artwork titled “Peasant Woman” was painted by the artist Camille Pissarro in the year 1880. The medium used is oil on canvas, and the painting falls under the Impressionism movement. Measuring 73 x 60.4 cm, this portrait genre piece is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, United States.
In the artwork, we see a woman depicted in a natural outdoor setting, which is indicated by the lush green foliage that forms the backdrop. The subject is dressed in attire typical of a peasant of the time, with a patterned headscarf, a simple dark blouse, and a light-colored skirt. Her posture and expression suggest a moment of repose or contemplation. Pissarro has used quick, visible brushstrokes characteristic of the Impressionist style to capture the vibrancy of the natural light and the color variations it creates on the subject and her surroundings. Despite the seemingly spontaneous technique, there is a palpable sense of structure and solidity in the woman’s form, which reflects the artist’s commitment to representing the lives and conditions of the rural working class with dignity and respect. The painting is a testament to Pissarro’s empathy for peasant subjects and his mastery of the Impressionist approach to light and color.
