Artwork
Young Peasant Having Her Coffee
Young Peasant Having Her Coffee is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Camille Pissarro. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
Camille Pissarro painted Young Peasant Having Her Coffee in 1891, employing oil on canvas to capture a quiet domestic moment. The work shows a young rural woman seated by a window, cradling a cup of coffee, rendered with the soft, atmospheric touch typical of late‑19th‑century French painting. It belongs to the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a solitary peasant woman, her posture relaxed and gaze unfocused, suggesting a pause in daily labor for personal reflection. The simple attire and modest surroundings emphasize the dignity of ordinary life, while the act of drinking coffee introduces a subtle note of modernity and comfort within a rural setting.
Technique & Style
Pissarro applies muted browns, beiges and grays with delicate, blended brushwork that softens edges and creates a warm, intimate ambience. Light filters through the window, subtly modeling the figure and table, while the overall handling reflects his transition from Impressionist plein‑air studies toward a more measured, Neo‑Impressionist sensibility.
History & Provenance
Created toward the end of Pissarro’s career, the painting reflects his continued interest in everyday subjects after his collaborations with Seurat and Signac. It entered the Art Institute of Chicago’s holdings in the early 20th century, where it has remained on view as part of the museum’s European painting collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob Abraham Camille Pissarro ( piss-AR-oh; French: ; 10 July 1830 – 13 November 1903) was a Danish-French Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist painter born on the island of Saint Thomas (now in the US Virgin Islands, but then in the…
