The Mender

c. 1881

The Mender, c. 1881. Camille Pissarro (French, 1830–1903). Pen and black ink and gray wash over graphite heightened with white gouache; sheet: 15.1 x 10.2 cm (5 15/16 x 4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland 1927.298 Camille Pissarro used the French countryside and its inhabitants as the subject of his art throughout his career. He frequently depicted women sewing, often outdoors or seated beside a window, as seen in this drawing. He indicated the effects of natural light illuminating his subject with the notation "lumière" at the left margin of the drawing. At the time this drawing was made, Camille Pissarro lived in the small village of Pontoise. He remained there for over a decade to immerse himself in the type of rural life that he depicted in his art.