The artwork “Rue de l’epicerie at Rouen, on a Grey Morning” was created by Camille Pissarro in 1898. It is an oil on canvas painting which adheres to the Impressionist movement, depicting a cityscape genre. The dimensions of the artwork are 65 cm by 81 cm, and it currently resides within a private collection.
The painting captures a bustling street in Rouen with a dynamic and textured surface that exemplifies Impressionist technique. The composition is balanced with the grandeur of Rouen’s Gothic architecture towering in the background, contrasting with the more modest, tightly packed houses and shops that line the bustling street in the foreground. The overcast sky suggests the “grey morning” mentioned in the title, lending the artwork a subdued palette that is nevertheless punctuated by spots of brighter colors—most notably on the signage and the figures scattered throughout the street. Pissarro’s deft brushwork elicits the vibrancy and transient nature of everyday life during this era. Despite the muted tones, the painting is imbued with life, demonstrated by the depiction of figures going about their daily routines and the carriages in motion. This scene, captured with loose and expressive brushstrokes, reflects the essence of the Impressionist movement, which sought to render moments in time with an immediacy and a new approach to light and color.
