Esther Pissarro

Esther Pissarro
Portrait of Esther by Lucien Pissarro
Born
Esther Levi Bensusan

(1870-08-12)12 August 1870
Died20 November 1951(1951-11-20) (aged 79)
NationalityBritish
Known forEngraving, Printmaking, Design
MovementArts and Crafts movement
Spouse
Lucien Pissarro
​
​
(m. 1892; died in 1944)​
Pastoral scene published by the Eragny Press in London

Esther Bensusan Pissarro (12 November 1870 – 20 November 1951) was a British wood-engraver, designer, and printer.

Biography

Pissarro née Bensusan was born on 12 November 1870,[1] the sister of Samuel L. Bensusan. Her parents were Jacob Samuel Levy Bensusan (1846–1917), an ostrich feather merchant, and his wife Miriam Levy Bensusan (1848–1926). She studied at the Crystal Palace School of Art.[2] On 10 August 1892 she married fellow artist Lucien Pissarro (1863–1944) with whom she had one daughter, the artist Orovida Camille Pissarro (1893–1968).[3] In 1894, inspired by William Morris's Kelmscott Press, Esther and Lucien Pissarro established the Eragny Press.[2] The Eragny Press produced books illustrated with colour wood-engravings.[4] [5] Esther assisted with creating the wood engravings from Lucien's designs. [6]

Pissarro died on 20 November 1951.[1] Work by Esther and Lucien Pissarro are in the Tate[7] and the Royal Academy of Arts.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Esther Pissarro | Artist |". Royal Academy of Arts. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Esther Pissarro". Collections Online | British Museum. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  3. ^ Jenkins, David Fraser; Bonett, Helena (1 May 2012). "Lucien Pissarro 1863–1944". The Camden Town Group in Context. Tate. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Esther Pissarro". Bridwell Library. Southern Methodist University. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  5. ^ Genz, Marcella D.(2004). A History of the Eragny Press, 1894–1914. New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Press and London: British Library, 2004.
  6. ^ "Pissarro, Esther". Benezit Dictionary of Artists. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Gallery | Esther Pissarro". Tate Images. Retrieved 17 August 2020.