With his paintings of quaint country towns and graphical Paris cityscapes, Pissarro demonstrated that the transformative effects of light and atmosphere which define Impressionism could be attained while still respecting traditional painting structure and composition.
Camille Pissarro was the only artist to exhibit in all eight Impressionist shows, earning him acclaim as the "father of Impressionism" for his pivotal role binding the group aesthetically and philosophically. Initially influenced by Corot, Pissarro painted poetic rural landscapes infused with figural staffage inspired by Millet depicting peasants at work in the fields. As he matured professionally, Pissarro developed a highly systematic painting technique evidenced by stippled brushwork applied in complementary colors to create vivid visual harmonies. With his paintings of quaint country towns and graphical Paris cityscapes, Pissarro demonstrated that the transformative effects of light and atmosphere which define Impressionism could be attained while still respecting traditional painting structure and composition. His contributions were not merely artistic but intellectual and moral, as he mentored iconic figures like Cézanne, Gauguin, and Van Gogh on their paths toward individual mastery.