Orovida Pissarro (8 October 1893 – 8 August 1968), known for most of her life as Orovida, was a British painter and etcher. For most of her career she distanced herself from the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist styles of her father, Lucien Pissarro and grandfather, Camille Pissarro, in favour of a technique influenced by Chinese and other Asiatic art; but in the last quarter of her career developed a manner which drew on both traditions. Early life and studies Orovida Camille Pissarro was born in Britain on 8 October 1893 in Epping, Essex. She would live primarily in London throughout her life. She was the only child of the French artist Lucien Pissarro, who had settled in Britain in 1890, and his wife, Esther (née Bensusan). Orovida was named after Esther's aunt. The list of artists in Orovida's family is headed by her grandfather, Camille Pissarro, the Impressionist. Her father Lucien, Camille's eldest son, was a painter, printmaker and wood engraver. Her uncles, including Georges Henri Manzana Pissarro, Félix Pissarro, and Ludovic Rodo Pissarro, as well as other relatives, were also artists. Orovida displayed her talent at a young age. Lucien said that it was "in her blood". Drawings by the five-year-old Orovida earned praise from her renowned grandfather. Orovida studied oil painting with her father during her teens, becoming proficient in the Impressionist style. As seen in her Self-portrait, Lucien had limited her palette to using only five colours. Her mother, who had artistic training herself, believed that art was a financially insecure profession, and insisted that Orovida study music. But the daughter's interest in etching, with its prospects for commercial illustration, helped to assuage her mother's fears. In 1913 Orovida briefly studied with Walter Sickert, before renouncing formal art training. Early works Orovida never was a part of Britain's mainstream art movements. She became the first female professional artist in the Pissarro family, and the family's first artist of her generation. In 1921 she and French artist Marie Laurencin exhibited in a joint exhibition. A 1924 British Museum exhibition of Chinese painting had a great influence on her artistic sensibilities. Despite her father's disappointment, Orovida, in her 20s, abandoned Impressionism and developed an unusual decorative style inspired by Chinese as well as Japanese, Persian and Indian art. This was partly due to a desire to distinguish herself from her family's strong Impressionist legacy. She further accomplished this by dropping