Jacob Abraham Camille Pissarro was born on July 10, 1830, in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Danish West Indies. He is well known for his contributions in the field of art. He was an impressionist painter. Impressionist artists paint an impression of what the landscape, person or object looks like to them. Camille Pissarro grew up in a house in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. The building is still standing today and is called Pissarro Building. It is on Main Street. Camille Pissarro went away to boarding school when he was around 12 years old. He returned to St. Thomas at around 17 years old to help with his family’s business. He later moved from St. Thomas to Venezuela, and then to France, pursuing a life in art. He died in France on November 13, 1903. His paintings often depict countryside landscapes and working-class people.
In this activity, students will use the questions from an Analyze Artwork worksheet to meet artwork by Camille Pissarro. They will point out aspects of the environment shown in the painting, consider areas of their home island that are like the one shown in the painting, and learn a little about the artist and his connection to the US Virgin Islands.
About
Primary Sources in this Activity
Suggested Teaching Instructions
Before beginning this activity, help students to understand what a primary source is, and discuss how artwork is a primary source.
Load the Pissarro artwork onto an interactive smart board and have students make observations together. If there is not a smart board, students can work in small groups at computers.
Also load the Analyze Artwork worksheet on the smart board or on computers so that you can lead students through answering the questions on the worksheet.
