Camille Pissarro’s Initial Significant Retrospective in the United States in More Than 40 Years Set to Launch This Month
When discussing Impressionist painters, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Camille Pissarro usually rank among the most notable. However, in relation to his contemporaries, Pissarro is frequently regarded as the “first Impressionist,” a sentiment echoed not only by art historians but also by fellow artist Paul Cézanne. Therefore, it’s fitting that Pissarro stands as the exclusive focus of an upcoming exhibition centered on Impressionism, set to open at the Denver Art Museum later this month.
As his initial significant U.S. exhibition in over four decades, *The Honest Eye: Camille Pissarro’s Impressionism* presents a comprehensive overview of the artist’s influence on one of the art world’s most cherished movements. The exhibition assembles more than 80 artworks from nearly 50 global museums and private collections, shedding light on the expansive range and adaptability of Pissarro’s artistic practice. Works like *The Studio at Éragny* exemplify the artist’s mastery of texture and color, largely due to his fluid brushwork and their precise arrangement on the canvas. While *View from my Window, Éragny* may illustrate the same vista, created a few years earlier, it reveals Pissarro’s exploration of pointillistic surfaces, another significant style of the late 19th century.
If these pieces from Éragny are indicative, Pissarro’s body of work is deeply entrenched in themes of place and landscape. Pissarro called Éragny home from 1884 until his passing in 1903, dedicating numerous works to this quaint village located in northern France. Paris also served as a significant muse, pushing the artist to enhance his architectural abilities. *The Pont-Neuf*, created just two years before he died, depicts one of the city’s many bridges, bustling with people and horse-drawn carriages. In the background stand several Haussmannian structures, rendered with such gentle brushstrokes that they almost appear ethereal. Similarly, *Morning Sun in the Rue Saint-Honoré* unveils an unmistakably urban tableau that aligns seamlessly with the broader “flâneur” movement of that time.
Accompanying *The Honest Eye* is a variety of public programming, where curators, art experts, and even a horticulturalist delve into Pissarro’s contributions. One talk delves into Pissarro’s Caribbean heritage, given that he was born on St. Thomas in what was once the Danish West Indies (currently the U.S. Virgin Islands). Another discussion reflects on how the artist’s Impressionistic depictions of landscapes continue to “shape and challenge modern interpretations of wildness, cultivation, and beauty,” as stated by the Denver Art Museum.
“A multifaceted artist, Pissarro exemplified the role of an insider, aiding in the formation of Impressionism as a unified avant-garde movement while preserving his artistic autonomy by choosing to illustrate quotidian scenes rather than the upper-class subjects favored by his peers,” the museum notes. *“The Honest Eye* embodies this contrast.”
The exhibition’s painted landscapes, urban scenes, and portraits all unveil an artist inspired by a multitude of subjects and themes. *The Honest Eye: Camille Pissarro’s Impressionism* is set to open at the Denver Art Museum on October 25, 2025, and will remain on display until February 8, 2026.
**The first major U.S. retrospective of Camille Pissarro in over 40 years will open later this month at the Denver Art Museum.**
**The Honest Eye: Camille Pissarro’s Impressionism** assembles over 80 artworks, providing a comprehensive look at the artist’s impactful practice and lasting influence.
**Exhibition Information**:
*The Honest Eye: Camille Pissarro’s Impressionism*
October 25, 2025–February 8, 2026
Denver Art Museum
100 W 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver, CO 80204
**Denver Art Museum**: [Website](https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/denverartmuseum)
*My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by the Denver Art Museum.*