“Place du Havre, Paris” is an oil on canvas cityscape painting by the Impressionist artist Camille Pissarro, created in 1893. This artwork measures 60.1 by 73.5 cm and is part of the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It exemplifies the characteristics of the Impressionism movement through its vibrant brushwork and depiction of light.
The artwork captures a bustling urban scene with a flurry of activity characteristic of a Parisian city square. Pissarro’s use of color and light conveys the animation of the place, with multiple figures, carriages, and early automobiles moving through the square. The buildings are depicted with a range of pastel hues that suggest the play of sunlight on their facades. The composition is dynamic, with the elements of the cityscape layered to create a sense of depth and perspective. The artist’s brushstrokes are loose and visible, adding a textural quality to the painting that is typical of Impressionist works. The bustling city atmosphere is vividly expressed, providing a snapshot of life in Paris during the late 19th century.
