“Near the Bank of the Seine at By,” a landscape painting from 1882 by the Impressionist artist Alfred Sisley, is executed in oil on canvas and measures 54 by 73 centimeters. The artwork, currently held in a private collection, exemplifies the Impressionist movement with its vibrant and expressive brushwork.
In the artwork, Sisley captures a serene riverside scene along the Seine. The sky, depicted with delicate brushstrokes, transitions from cloud-filled expanses to patches of clear blue, encapsulating the dynamic atmosphere of the landscape. Lush vegetation occupies the foreground, where tall grasses and wildflowers flourish, rendered with a tactile quality. A prominent tree extends its branches over the right side, its leaves rendered in countless dabs of color, highlighting the fleeting effects of light. The river itself, situated in the middle ground, reflects the hues of its surroundings, creating a harmonious blend of water, foliage, and sky. The distant horizon is punctuated by the quaint structures along the riverbank, culminating in a picturesque vista that exemplifies Sisley’s mastery in conveying the transient effects of natural light and atmosphere.
