The artwork titled “Rouen, Saint Sever, Afternoon” is a significant piece by the esteemed artist Camille Pissarro, created in the year 1898. It is an oil on canvas work, measuring 65 by 81 centimeters, and is presently held in a private collection. Pissarro, a pivotal figure in the Impressionist movement, utilizes his deft brushwork to render a cityscape that is both vibrant and evocative of the atmosphere particular to that era. The genre of the piece is a cityscape, a type of artwork that depicts urban spaces, and this work specifically captures the essence of Rouen’s Saint Sever district during the afternoon.
In the artwork, the viewer observes a panoramic view of the city from a vantage point across the water. The city of Rouen unfolds under a sky that is partly cloudy, with the soft light of the afternoon sun filtering through, casting subtle shadows and illuminating parts of the buildings and water. The bustling life of the industrial city is suggested by several features: the prominent smokestack in the distance emitting plumes of smoke, the variety of boats in the foreground including barges and smaller rowboats, and the sturdily built bridge that spans the river.
The brushstrokes are loose and impressionistic, capturing the flickering quality of light on water and the textures of the cityscape. The color palette is muted, consisting primarily of earthy tones alongside the blues and grays of the water and sky, which is characteristic of Pissarro’s style during this period. The composition does not focus on individual figures or details but instead conveys the overall impression of the city as a lively and dynamic environment. Overall, the artwork is a splendid example of Impressionist urban representation, encapsulating the transient quality of light and the feeling of modern life at the turn of the 19th century.
