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CHOICE Review

The relative plethora of exhibitions, catalogs, and monographs on Renoir, Monet, and Degas that appeared during the 1980s have tended to mask or underplay the importance of other French Impressionist painters such as Morisot, Bazille, Sisley, and Pissarro. This is particularly the case for Pissarro, the founder and leader of the movement, friend and supporter of Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cassatt, Seurat, Signac, and Van Gogh, and teacher of Cezanne and Gauguin. In 1981, Christopher Lloyd's general treatment of the artist's life and art appeared (Camille Pissarro, CH, Mar'82); in 1980, Ralph E. Shikes and Paula Harper had published a more in-depth discussion, Pissarro: His Life and Work (CH, Nov'80). Brettell's significant study rectifies the relatively little coverage and importance that these (and other) titles have accorded Pissarro's nearly 20 years at work and more than 300 paintings (as well as numerous prints, drawings, watercolors, and gouaches) of the city and vicinity of Pontoise between 1866 and 1883. Through six stimulating chapters Brettell exhaustively documents the intimate connection between Pissarro and his site over an extended period of time. With extensive endnotes, detailed bibliography, good index, and 171 plates (120 in color), this well-produced and well-written book will be an important addition to all museum and academic collections concentrating on modern art. -J. Weidman, Oberlin College