Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) was a Danish-French oil painter who is said by many to be the Father of impressionism. Pissarro, a dedicated artist and family man, worked at his art and the raising of eight children near the place of Monet, images we now know so well.

He is quoted as saying he did not want to take art classes but to work side by side with artists and learn from them. And this he did as one of the older members of the Impressionist Movement in France. Dabbing colors on canvas often outdoors with color and light’s effects on color paramount, he pushed the limits and succeeded against all the odds of his time — and with some help from those very times.

 Art seems invariably tied to history. In the days of this artist, French society was changing rapidly with advances in technology leading the way. Pissarro and his friends felt this liberating atmosphere called them to new possibilities of what and how to paint. They moved away from the strict precision of portraits painted for the wealthy to scenes of everyday life painted with fresh eyes outside the rules. They painted the familiar through the rain and controversy and rejection to leave us countless treasures that fill the museums of the world.

Have you wondered about the art that will come from our times? What limits will it push? Will it survive the present-day brash critique and actual censure?

May our prayer be to be strong and of good courage, turning to the arts each day and remembering God as co-creator of emotion, beauty and light whether realized or not.

May it be so.

In gratitude, faith and hope,