The artwork titled “Rue Saint Lazare under Snow” is an oil on canvas cityscape painting created by Camille Pissarro in 1897. Measuring 27 x 35 cm, it is a fine example of the Impressionist movement. The piece is part of a private collection and depicts a vivid urban scene blanketed with snow.
The artwork captures the bustling Rue Saint Lazare in Paris during what appears to be a snowy day. Typical of Pissarro’s style and the defining characteristics of Impressionism, the painting conveys the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere with loose brushwork and a heightened sense of immediacy. The color palette is dominated by whites and grays, punctuated by earthy tones that give life to the architecture and the people crowding the street.
One can observe a throng of figures, possibly Parisians going about their day, interspersed with horse-drawn carriages and storefronts that line the roadway. The blurred details of the figures and vehicles convey a sense of motion and the transient nature of the scene. The representation of light diffused through the winter air adds to the impression of coldness and the chill of the season. The verticality of the buildings flanking the street and the perspective draw the viewer’s eye into the depth of the urban landscape, creating a sense of space and reality within the composition. This work exemplifies Pissarro’s keen interest in urban life and his ability to translate the dynamism of the city onto canvas.
