Jeanne Pissarro known as Minette holding a fan
- Original dimensions
- 46.5 x 56 cm
- Museum
- Ashmolean Museum
- Year
- 1873
Scene depicted
This timeless painting tenderly immerses us in an intimate scene, capturing the spirit of a young girl at the heart of a radiant summer. The soft light caresses her face as she holds a fan, an accessory that evokes both the fashion of the time and the natural grace of youth. The composition harmoniously balances the rhythm of the delicate curves of her dress with the sobriety of the background, offering a moment of serenity and contemplation.
Historical context
Created in 1873, this painting exquisite takes its roots at the end of the 19th century, in Paris, a bustling crossroads of creativity and artistic innovation. Part of the impressionist movement, Jeanne Pissarro dite Minette tenant un éventail captures the innocence of a bygone era, as the city was in full artistic effervescence. The painting is currently housed in the prestigious Ashmolean Museum , in the city of Oxford, where its beauty is celebrated among other treasures of cultural heritage. With dimensions of 46.5 x 56 cm, this pictorial work attracts the eye and the imagination.
Place in the artist's career
Regarded as a key moment in the career of Camille Pissarro , Jeanne Pissarro dite Minette tenant un éventail illustrates the evolution of his style towards a more fragile and personal expressiveness. This painting is situated between Les Cuisines de Montmartre (1876) and Le Jardin des Tuileries (1876), where one can notice a transition towards a more intimate and affectionate treatment of subjects, reflecting his family attachment and growing technical abilities.
Anecdote
Camille Pissarro , a passionate witness of his time, often spoke of the importance of capturing light and the moment: “Painting is a poem that one sees instead of hearing.” It was during a quiet afternoon in Éragny, under a bright blue sky, that he conceived this emotional composition. The breath of the wind and the scent of the surrounding flowers influenced the gentle pose of his daughter, Jeanne, who delicately holds a fan, a symbol of elegance and lightness.