Artwork

Illustration 25: La Ronde

Illustration 25:  La Ronde, by Lucien Pissarro, 1893
Illustration 25:  La Ronde, by Lucien Pissarro, 1893

Illustration 25: La Ronde is a print by the Impressionist artist Lucien Pissarro. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Next, look up Lucien Pissarro (British, 1863–1944) to see more of his gentle, nature-filled art.

This drawing shows a group of people gathered around a large tree with fluffy branches. The figures are simple and soft-edged, drawn in light brown lines against a pale background. Some people are standing, others are sitting or leaning, and one person holds a small child.

The artist used smooth, flowing lines to create a calm, dreamy scene. The tree’s branches curve like clouds, and the people blend into the landscape.

Next, look up Lucien Pissarro (British, 1863–1944) to see more of his gentle, nature-filled art.

Overview

Illustration 25: La Ronde is a print executed in 1893 by Lucien Pissarro, the eldest son of the Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro. The work belongs to a series of illustrations that arrange figures in a circular, rhythmic composition, emphasizing a harmonious gathering beneath a stylized tree.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a small group assembled around a large, softly rendered tree. Figures are rendered with gentle, light‑brown lines; some stand, others sit or lean, and one adult cradles a child. The composition suggests a tranquil, communal moment, with the tree’s curving branches echoing the calm atmosphere.

Technique & Style

Pissarro employs smooth, flowing lines and a muted palette to create a dreamlike quality. The soft edges and simplified forms reflect the influence of both Impressionist and Neo‑Impressionist approaches, while the circular arrangement aligns with the avant‑garde sensibilities of the Belgian group Les XX.

History & Provenance

Trained in landscape painting and printmaking, Lucien Pissarro worked primarily in France until 1890 before moving to Britain. The print was produced shortly after his relocation, during a period when he was exploring print media and contributing to illustration series that circulated among progressive artistic circles.

Context

Created at a time when Pissarro was engaging with the ideas of Les XX, the work embodies the cross‑currents of late‑19th‑century European art, merging French Impressionist heritage with the more systematic, color‑focused experiments of Neo‑Impressionism.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Lucien Pissarro

Artist

Lucien Pissarro

Lucien Pissarro (20 February 1863 – 10 July 1944) was a French landscape painter, printmaker, wood engraver, designer, and printer of fine books.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.