The market at Gisors II by Camille Pissarro

A public meeting or a traditional market under the trees unfolds in this work of great open-air freshness. This remarkable creation developed by the famous painter Camille Pissarro bears the title of “The market at Gisors II” and illustrates the quintessence of village chronicles dear to impressionism. By choosing to represent a multitude of figures captivated by daily exchanges, the artist fixes a living snapshot of the province. The painting exudes a beautiful rustic serenity.

Two tall vertical tree trunks elegantly frame the scene, spreading a dome of green and yellow leaves above the assembled crowd. In the foreground, wicker baskets empty or filled with goods are placed on the light ground flooded with light. On the right, a peasant woman wearing a white coif and a large apron discusses with a man wearing a brown hat. In the center, other female figures in blue aprons and dark clothing form small groups of animated exchanges. The background hints at the light walls of a rural building under a soft sky, while the filtered light dots the ground with changing light spots.

The excellence of the know-how is manifested in the graphic treatment of the silhouettes and the restoration of the shadow effects cast under the canopy. Thanks to fluid brushstrokes and an excellent mastery of textures, the artist manages to breathe a realistic and poetic life into this popular gathering.