Rue Damiette, Rouen

c. 1884

Rue Damiette, Rouen, c. 1884. Camille Pissarro (French, 1830–1903). Black chalk and watercolor on wove paper; sheet: 29.2 x 22.7 cm (11 1/2 x 8 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis B. Williams Collection 1968.357 This drawing was created during an early trip of many that Camille Pissarro took to Rouen, a port city in northern France. It inspired the artist to create a virtually identical etching around the same time, and may have served as a preparatory sketch for that work. A founding member of the Impressionist group, Pissarro spent much of his career painting the rural and landscape outdoors and paid particular attention to the effects of weather and natural light. Here, the gray skies over the town echo the muted tone of the stone buildings that occupy a quiet side street. Because of its picturesque qualities, Rouen's rue Damiette has served as a subject for numerous artists.