La Seine à Bougival (The Seine at Bougival) (1872)
Technique: Giclée quality print
Recommended by our customers
More about this artwork
Alfred Sisley's impressionist masterpiece, "La Seine à Bougival," brilliantly captures the serene and picturesque landscapes that characterize the French commune of Bougival, situated along the River Seine. Painted in 1872, this work is a quintessential example of Sisley's dedication to plein air painting, embodying the transient effects of light and atmosphere that became central themes in Impressionist art.The painting presents a tranquil riverside scene, where the gentle flow of the Seine sets a reflective background. A group of trees command the left foreground, their lush green foliage depicted with loose, vibrant brushstrokes that convey the freshness and vitality of the natural world. These trees frame a small gathering of people, subtly integrated into the scene and depicted in a casual, everyday moment, which amplifies the painting's impression of genuine, unposed life.A focal point of this artwork is the calm water of the Seine, mirroring the cloudy sky and the pastoral village on the opposite bank. The reflection in the water is rendered with a masterful subtlety that beautifully captures the fluid, ever-changing surface of the river. The composition is balanced by the inclusion of boats moored along the bank, adding a human element that speaks to the interaction between people and nature."La Seine à Bougival" offers viewers a glimpse into the tranquil, everyday beauty of rural France in the late 19th century, characterized by its soft palette and the delicate interplay of light and shadow.
Delivery
Returns
Alfred Sisley (1839–1899), an English impressionist artist, was renowned for his breathtaking impressionist landscape paintings. Born in 1839 to a wealthy family in Paris, Sisley spent most of his life in France. Despite being intended for a career in commerce, he rebelled and pursued his passion for painting as an amateur in the studio of Charles Gleyre, where he befriended artists Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The financial loss of his family in the Franco-German War led Sisley to make a career out of his art, though it left him financially distressed. It wasn't until after his passing in 1899 that the true value of his work was recognized.