The artwork “Shepherdess and Sheep” was created by Camille Pissarro in 1887 and is a fine example of the Impressionist movement to which Pissarro belonged. As a genre painting, it is currently held in a private collection. The Impressionist style Pissarro employed is evident through his choice of subject matter, visible brush strokes, and light’s play on surfaces.
This painting depicts a countryside scene focusing on a shepherdess who stands next to a tree, appearing to be watching over her flock of sheep. The shepherdess is clothed in a simple long dress with a darker bodice and a lighter skirt, as well as a white undergarment at the sleeves and hem. She holds a staff gently in her right hand. The sheep are scattered across the foreground, lazily grazing the bright green grass. In the background, one can see a vast expanse of what seems to be farmland, with patches of different shades of green and yellow, possibly indicating crops or variations in the terrain. The sky is painted with soft brush strokes, depicting a light blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds. The painting is imbued with a sense of tranquility and a moment captured in the everyday rural life, showing Pissarro’s mastery in illuminating ordinary scenes with extraordinary light and color.
