“Peasants in the Field, Eragny” is a masterful artwork by Camille Pissarro, created in the year 1890, and it is an exemplar of the Pointillism within the Neo-Impressionism movement. The painting is rendered in oil on canvas and depicts a pastoral landscape scene. The artwork is part of the collection at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery located in Buffalo, NY, US.
The artwork portrays a rustic and serene countryside, with figures engaged in agricultural labor. In the foreground, a peasant is seen bending over to dig the soil with a spade while another stands by holding a basket, suggesting that they are likely planting or harvesting crops. The meticulous application of paint in small, distinct dots of color—a technique characteristic of Pointillism—gives the scene vibrancy and a shimmering quality that is quite captivating.
To the right, at some distance, another figure can be discerned, possibly taking a rest from the demanding work in the fields. The far background stretches out to a softly undulated horizon, where one can observe tiny figures that may be other laborers or perhaps livestock. Above, the sky is rendered with subtle color variations, but with the same pointillist touch, completing the harmonious composition that invites contemplation of rural life at the close of the nineteenth century.
