Artwork
Woman and Child at the Well
Woman and Child at the Well is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Camille Pissarro. It dates from 1882 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Created in oil on canvas during the early 1880s, this work presents a rural woman and a young child at a well.
- Accession no.
- 81552
- Credit line
- Potter Palmer Collection
About this work
Overview
Created in oil on canvas during the early 1880s, this work presents a rural woman and a young child at a well. The figures dominate the composition, reflecting the artist’s temporary departure from his earlier landscape focus. The scene captures a quiet moment of domestic activity, rendered with the loose brushwork characteristic of the period’s Impressionist practice.
Subject & Meaning
The painting belongs to a series in which the artist recorded peasant women pausing from labor. The woman leans toward the well while the child gazes upward, a pose that suggests a narrative yet leaves its specifics open to interpretation. The inclusion of the artist’s own four‑year‑old son as the boy adds a personal dimension to the otherwise anonymous rural tableau.
Technique & Style
Executed with oil pigments, the work employs a muted palette and soft modeling of light and shade, echoing the chiaroscuro approach to give volume to the figures. Brushstrokes remain visible, conveying the fleeting quality of light typical of Impressionist technique, while the composition maintains a balanced, intimate scale.
History & Provenance
The piece was shown at the seventh Impressionist exhibition in the spring of 1882, where the artist presented thirty‑six paintings, twenty‑seven of which featured human figures. This exhibition marked a pivotal moment in his career, highlighting his shift toward genre scenes. Subsequent ownership records trace the painting through private collections before its acquisition by the museum.
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