The artwork “Peasants Planting Pea Sticks” is a creation of the esteemed artist Camille Pissarro, dated to the year 1890. This piece is classified within the Impressionism movement and is recognized as a genre painting. The dimensions of the work measure approximately 99 cm by 152.4 cm. Presently, it is housed within the prestigious Ashmolean Museum, located in Oxford, United Kingdom.
The artwork presents a tranquil rural scene, imbued with a sense of everyday life and labor. Several figures are depicted in the act of planting pea sticks, engaged in agricultural work. Their attire, consisting of rural working clothes, aligns with the period and setting of the scene. The setting is lush and verdant, with flowering trees indicating the springtime, and the background opens up to a broader, softer landscape that continues the impressionistic style with its loose brushstrokes and emphasis on the effects of light. The painting is notable for its oval-shaped canvas, which accentuates the focused activity of the figures and creates a vignette-like effect, drawing viewers directly into the pastoral moment. The artist’s use of light and color exemplifies the impressionistic endeavor to capture the fleeting moments of light in nature, as well as the harmonious rhythms of the countryside.
