The oil painting, ‘Haymakers Resting’ (1891) by Camille Pissarro is an impressionist piece. It consists of a rural landscape with haymakers in the foreground, trees in the mid-ground, and a large sunset sky in the background. Pissarro’s use of pointillism creates an airy atmosphere to showcase this idyllic moment. The determined brushstrokes form the outlines and create subtle color variations in the background. The combination of greens, blues and oranges gives a rich depth to the scene similar to that found in nature.
Camille Pissarro was a key figure in the impressionist movement and his works have been embraced as integral pieces of French 19th century realism. Despite gaining fame later on in his career, Pissarro had already developed an established technique during his early period., as can be seen from such detailed works such as ‘Gelee Blanche’ (1873). This painting is another reflection of Pissaro’s mastery over his craft, offering viewers a glimpse into everyday life in France during this period.
Both Haymakers Resting and Gelee Blanche capture scenes from rural France emphasizing different aspects of day-to-day life during 19th century Europe. Through their respective techniques and tonalities, these two works offer viewers beautiful illustrations into how artists were using paint to depict daily life at the time.
