Walter Richard Sickert

The eIsest son of famous impressionist Camille Pissarro, Lucien was taught by his father and in Paris, came under the influence of the neo-impressionist Seurat and Signac, whose divisionist technique was to have a lasting effect on his painting; he did in fact exhibit at the last Impressionist Exhibition of 1886 in Paris, In 1890, Lucien emigrated to England, partly to escape from the overwhelming artistic influence of Camille, In London, Pissarro came into contact with all the famous artist/printers of the day, and four years later founded the Eragny Press, one of the most distinguished presses in Britain. Noted for his woodcuts, Pissarro was also an influential painter. Though the impressionist trained artist was originally horrified by Sickert's low keyed tones and uncompromising subject matter. ("Deplorable!" was his initial response) Pissarro soon gravitated towards Sickert's circle attending Fitzroy Street, the New English Art Club, and becoming a founder member of Camden Town in 1911, As a painter, Pissarro specialized in English country landscapes, rural views of woods, cottage gardens and orchards, Adopting light colours and a broken touch pointillist style, Pissarro's approach was conscientious and constructive, building up his landscapes with tiny strokes and a rational observation of colour, that gives his pictures their characteristic solidity, Pissarro's neo-impressionist style had a considerable effect on other artists in the Camden Town Group, and he provided an important link with developments in France, Pissarro became a British subject in 1916, and died in Dorset in 1944, having continued his career as painter until he was well into his seventies.

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