In one critical decade, 19th-century artist Camille Pissarro revolutionized painting. Pissarro?s transformation from traditional landscape painter to Impressionist pioneer is the focus of the Baltimore Museum of Art?s upcomingexhibit, Pissarro: Creating the Impressionist.
For the unprecedented look at the artist?s metamorphosis, the BMA curators secured 45 works from nine private collections and international museums, including three paintings from Tel Aviv Museum of Art in Israel. The exhibit includes both small-scale paintings and larger works that were first revealed at 1860s salon exhibitions and the first Impressionist show in 1874. Pissarro?s “Strollers on a Country Road” ? permanently on display at the BMA ? inspired Katy Rothkopf, curator of European Painting and Sculpture, to investigate Pissarro?s evolution. ” ?Strollers? didn?t look like the Pissarro I knew,” Rothkopf said. “I asked myself ?What is that? What happened in the 1860s?? I continued examining his work from there.”
The BMA?s exploration of Pissarro shows the pioneer?s work from 1863 to 1874. In this period, Pissarro?s subject matter, brushwork and color palette develop into Impressionism?s distinguishing elements.
The BMA?s display demonstrates Pissarro?s interest in depicting shadow and flickering light, and his emphasis on ordinary subject matter such as common smoke stacks. “Happy are those who can see beauty in modest spots where others see nothing,” Pissarro is quoted as saying. “Everything is beautiful, the whole secret lies in knowing how to interpret.” Through X-ray technology described in the exhibit, BMA art historians were able to learn Pissarro?s early painting process. Technology discovered sketched figures such as a tree and cow that never surfaced in the final masterpieces. BMA curators believe Pissarro radically changed composition elements throughout his creative process. Creating the Impressionist Landscape also examines Barbizon painters, Claude Monet and Gustave Courbet?s influence on Pissarro. The exhibition is open at the BMA until early May when the show travels around the country, including Milwaukee and Memphis.
“We?re always pleased when we can showcase talent of own curatorial staff,” said Doreen Bolger, director of the BMA. “People will be enormously enthused. Each one of the 45 [paintings on display] is a precious jewel.”
IF YOU GO
Sunday through May 13
» Venue: Baltimore Art Museum
» Tickets: $15 adults, $12 seniors, $10 students, $6 ages 6 to 18, Free 5 and under and BMA members
» Info: 443-573-1700; artbma.org
