The artwork titled “Factories at Argenteuil,” created by Gustave Caillebotte in 1888, is an oil on canvas that exemplifies the impressionist movement. Measuring 82 by 165.1 centimeters, this landscape painting currently resides in a private collection. The artwork captures an industrial scene with factories set against a broad stretch of water, which reflects the buildings and smokestacks.
In the artwork, four tall smokestacks stand prominently on the horizon, emitting slender trails of smoke that drift indistinctly into the cloudy sky. The warm-hued brick buildings contrast with the cooler tones of the expansive sky and the rippling water in the foreground. Hints of red adorn the factory windows, providing a vibrant accent against the predominantly grey and blue palette. The reflection of the factories in the water is rendered in loose, fluid brushstrokes, indicative of the impressionist technique that seeks to capture the fleeting effects of light on the natural and built environment. The painting balances the elements of the industrial revolution with the ephemeral nature of light and water, displaying Caillebotte’s ability to find beauty in modernization.
