The Rising Path, Pontoise is a print, not a painting — an etching with aquatint and drypoint executed by Camille Pissarro in 1879 ^[4]. The work belongs to the artist's printmaking oeuvre, a dimension of his production that complements his better-known Impressionist canvases ^[2]. Pissarro (10 July 1830 – 13 November 1903) was a Danish-French artist born on the island of Saint Thomas, then part of the Danish West Indies, whose importance resides in his contributions to both Impressionism and Post-Impressionism ^[1].

Medium and technique: etching, aquatint, and drypoint

The print combines three intaglio techniques — etching, aquatint, and drypoint — a combination that allowed Pissarro to achieve varied tonal effects and textural richness ^[4]. The aquatint technique, which involves applying resin to the plate to create tonal areas, was particularly suited to rendering the dappled light and atmospheric depth of a woodland scene. This print exemplifies Pissarro's engagement with printmaking as a serious artistic medium, a practice he pursued alongside his painting career ^[2].

Provenance: the Harvard Art Museums collection

The print is held in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums, where it is part of the Fogg Museum's holdings ^[3]. The work entered the museum as a gift from Guy Mayer ^[3]. The Harvard Art Museums catalogue records the print's date as the 19th century ^[3].

Date	Event
1879	Print executed by Pissarro [4]
20th century	Gifted to the Fogg Museum by Guy Mayer [3]

Dimensions: a modest scale for intimate viewing

The print measures 16.2 x 21.3 cm (6 3/8 x 8 3/8 in.) ^[3]. This modest scale is characteristic of intimate graphic works intended for close viewing, inviting the beholder to examine the fine details of the etched lines and aquatint tonal passages ^[3].

Subject and iconography: the path through the woods at Pontoise

The subject — a rising path through the countryside near Pontoise — reflects Pissarro's sustained interest in rural landscapes and the everyday scenery of the French countryside ^[1]. Pontoise was a village northwest of Paris where Pissarro lived and worked, and it became a recurring subject in his art ^[1]. The print's title, recorded in the Museum of Modern Art's catalogue as Path through the Woods at Pontoise, emphasizes the wooded setting and the pathway that draws the viewer into the scene ^[4]. The Harvard Art Museums catalogue similarly titles the work Path in the Woods at Pontoise ^[3].

Pissarro's role in Impressionism and printmaking

Pissarro's importance as an artist rests on his contributions to both Impressionism and Post-Impressionism ^[1]. In 1873 he helped establish a collective society of fifteen aspiring artists, becoming the "pivotal" figure in holding the group together and encouraging the other members ^[1]. Art historian John Rewald called Pissarro the "dean of the Impressionist painters", not only because he was the oldest of the group, but also "by virtue of his wisdom and his balanced, kind, and warmhearted personality" ^[1]. Paul Cézanne said of Pissarro: "he was a father for me. A man to consult and a little like the good Lord" ^[1]. Pissarro also served as one of Paul Gauguin's masters, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir referred to his work as "revolutionary" ^[1].

Related works and stylistic evolution

Pissarro studied from great forerunners, including Gustave Courbet and Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, and later studied and worked alongside Georges Seurat and Paul Signac when he adopted the Neo-Impressionist style at the age of 54 ^[1]. The 1879 print dates from the period of Pissarro's mature Impressionism, before his turn to Neo-Impressionism in the mid-1880s ^[1]. The print's subject matter connects it to his broader landscape production, while its technique places it within the graphic works that ran parallel to his painted oeuvre ^[2].

Frequently asked questions

Is The Rising Path, Pontoise a painting or a print?

It is a print, specifically an etching with aquatint and drypoint, executed in 1879 ^[4]. The verified catalogue records its medium as etching, aquatint and drypoint ^[4].

Where is The Rising Path, Pontoise located today?

The print is held at the Harvard Art Museums, where it is part of the Fogg Museum collection, having been gifted by Guy Mayer ^[3].

What are the dimensions of The Rising Path, Pontoise?

The print measures 16.2 x 21.3 cm (6 3/8 x 8 3/8 in.) ^[3].