Camille Pissarro: Letters to His Son, Lucien [Paperback]

Camille Pissarro (Author), John Rewald (Editor), Barbara Stern Shapiro (Afterword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2002

Pissarro's weekly letters to his son Lucien, covering the dramatic period of Impressionism from 1883 to the painter's death in 1905, form what might be called a diary of the Impressionist school. In these wise, reflective, warmhearted missives, Pissarro, called the father of Impressionism, presents the growth and development of Impressionism and the struggles of its practitioners, as well as pungent and evocative observations on the politics, literature, and daily life of France in the late 19th century. But more than anything, these letters reveal an artist elucidating the inner resources of his craft: Lucien Pissarro, a contemporary of van Gogh, Seurat, and Toulouse-Lautrec, was himself a student of painting, and it was to the young artist above all that his father communicated the unique and illuminating perspectives on art contained in these documents. Brilliantly annotated and introduced by the renowned art historian John Rewald, and featuring a new preface by Barbara Stern Shapiro, Curator for Special Projects at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, this edition of the Letters restores to print one of the most intimate and enjoyable views ever offered of the Impressionist period.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: MFA Publications (September 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878466487
• ISBN-13: 978-0878466481
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,071,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Impressionism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Edited by a Legend, January 4, 2012

By 

William J. Havlicek, PhD - See all my reviews

This review is from: Camille Pissarro Letters To His Son Lucien (Hardcover)

The selection of letters made by the legendary John Rewald were those exchanged between Pissarro senior and his son. They are on par with those of Van Gogh and his brother Theo.
Through the daily lens of informal dialogue we get a glimpse into the late nineteenth century art world at a critical time in it's history.
With his unexpected death in 1903 we are left with several extraordinary last missives which tell a tale of a patient and devoted artist and father.
However balanced against these consoling aspects of his personality there is that of an anarchist ready to see the overthrow of Europe.
It is just that tension between comforter and crisis-maker that the power of his art portents. Once these letters have been read one
suddenly understands why Cezanne and Gauguin and others respected this man who Cezanne called a giant of art and the most humble of men. William Havlicek PhD

3.0 out of 5 stars Private Thoughts, December 27, 2011

By 

Duke of Kansas City (Kansas) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Camille Pissarro Letters To His Son Lucien (Hardcover)

I doubt if Camille Pissarro (CP) would have wanted his personal letters published, but today it seems to be in vogue to expose oneself to the world. Of course, just all the parties mentioned in his letters are deceased so perhaps our gain from reading the letters is justifiable since they expose many of his concerns, jealousies and political ideas. What is prevasive is CP constant need for money to support his large family at a time when his art was still not in demand until the last few years of his life. While living in England Lucien Pissarro, his eldest son, follows in his father's footsteps wanting to be a professional artist but must depend on his father for both financial and artistic support.

Pissarro's criticism of Gauguin and Signac seems too harsh today but back then painting was supreme in the visual arts and everyone was a critic. CP was jewish and an anarchist who wrote Lucien describing the antisemitic scene (Dreyfus affair and Zola's trial) and the conservative community and government reaction to the arts and social issues of his time.

What I enjoyed reading were his comments on some of his paintings and his interaction with galleries and collectors. Unfortunately many of the paintings referred to are not illustrated or if so they are not in color. Highly recommended for the serious art historian especially those interested in French art at the end of the 19th Century.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pissarro's philosophy on painting..., October 2, 2005

By 

A. W. Cecil "Ben Noah" (Estero, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Camille Pissarro: Letters to His Son, Lucien (Paperback)

Despite the editorial review ("Pissarro's weekly letters to his son Lucien, covering the dramatic period of Impressionism from 1883 to the painter's death in 1905")-- Pissarro died in 1903, and by 1883 the era of Impressionism was about over; Pissarro, Renior, and even Monet had abandoned the technique by this time-- this is a marvelous insight into the mind of one of the most influential painters of all time.