Port-Marly avant l’inondation (1876)

Alfred Sisley's painting "Port-Marly avant l’inondation" captures a serene yet anticipatory moment in the town of Port-Marly, located on the banks of the Seine, just before it was hit by a flood. Created in 1876, this work is an exquisite example of the Impressionist movement, showing Sisley's fascination with the effects of light and atmosphere on landscape and urban life.The painting offers a view down a calm street lined with buildings and bare trees, which suggest the season might be late autumn or early winter. The soft, muted palette of blues, grays, and earthen tones conveys a quiet, overcast day, possibly hinting at the looming natural event. Figures are dotted along the street and near the buildings, perhaps going about their daily routines, unaware of the impending flood.In true Impressionist style, Sisley employs loose brushwork that allows for a vibrant, dynamic representation of the scenery. The trees, with their delicate branches and the roofing of the houses are rendered with quick, expressive strokes, reflecting the transient light and the crisp air of the impending season."Port-Marly avant l’inondation" not only documents a historical moment specific to this region but also invites viewers to reflect on the transient beauty of everyday scenes, moments before they are altered by the forces of nature.