Market at Pontoise (Marché a Pontoise)

Camille Pissarro

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a busy marketplace scene. It depicts an array of figures closely gathered together, with most of them facing away or to the side. They appear to be engaged in conversation and examination of goods at a market. The composition is rich with a textured use of line and shading that suggests the presence of a lively environment filled with movement. The attire of the figures consists mostly of hats and long coats or shawls, giving the scene an old-fashioned quality. In the foreground, baskets and boxes can be detected. The drawing uses a monochrome palette, employing varying intensities of black and grey tones to create depth and contrast.