Frederic Pissarro

(b. 1964) 

Unlike other members of the Pissarro family, who have remained faithful to Camille's purely impressionistic techniques and vision of the world, Frederic's style and philosophy as an artist is more representative of post impressionism and expressionism. The work of such masters as Van Gogh, Edward Munch, and Edouard Cortes come to mind. Frederic's works go beyond the capturing of impressions; they capture the soul and inner character of his subjects. Frederic uses wider and freer brush strokes, and unlike Camille Pissarro and other impressionists, Frederic mixes his colors on the palette, this creates a feeling of movement and inner rhythm. Frederic Bonin Pissarro has not simply preserved the Pissarro family tradition. By reinventing it, he carries their legacy into the twenty first century.

Frederic Bonin Pissarro was born in Paris-March 1964 to Claude and Sylvie Bonin Pissarro. He is the great-grandson of Camille Pissarro, widely considered to be the father of Impressionism. Continuing the Pissarro family heritage, Frederic mastered the fundamentals of drawing at a very early age, under his father's guidance.

Frederic's childhood was idyllic, as family holidays took him to Brittany, Normandy, and the south of France. During these trips, Claude encouraged Frederic's power for observation and drawing without imposing his own style on his son's blossoming talent. While in the south of France, Frederic became acquainted with the artist Jacques Yankel, with whom Frederic would later study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.

Another important early influence on Frederic was Jean Edelmann, with whom the Bonin Pissarro family shared a summer home. Frederic credits Edelmann with freeing his sketching from "slavery to detail." Edelmann greatly influenced Frederic's ability to capture the evanescence of feeling and light.

At the age of twenty Frederic attended Ecole de Sevres. Later at twenty one, Frederic was accepted into the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, one of the world's most prestigious art schools. There he became acquainted with Jacques Yankel, who agreed to oversee Frederic's development.

While at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Frederic undertook several creative projects--among them, television and theater set design, and assisting with the design of the amusement park Planete Magique in Paris. At the same time, Frederic successfully exhibited and sold his paintings.

Eventually Frederic moved from Paris to the countryside near Pontoise. This was the same region captured by his great-grandfather Camille, by Claude Monet, and by Vincent Van Gogh.