Hoarfrost by Camille Pissarro

Camille Pissarro, one of the early Impressionists, painted Hoarfrost in 1873. Pissarro became a dedicated plein air painter early in his career, focusing on rural settings and temporal effects. Hoarfrost illustrates the fresh spontaneity achieved by painting from direct observation. Camille Pissarro modulated the tone of his color to convey specific atmosphere, as seen in the bright blues of the warming sky in contrast to the muted hues of the brittle frost on the frozen ground.

Camille Pissarro's Hoarfrost (oil on canvas, 25-5/8x 36-5/8 inches) hangs in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.

In 1871 the Franco-Prussian War broke out and Camille Pissarro fled to London. Next, we'll look at an Impressionist painting that emerged from this time of refuge.

For more on Impressionist paintings, artists, and art history, see:

• Impressionism
• Vincent van Gogh
• Claude Monet