The artwork titled “The Quay at Bougival” by Berthe Morisot was created in 1883 and is a fine example of the Impressionism movement. This piece is an oil on canvas measuring 55 x 46 cm and can be classified under the cityscape genre. Currently, the artwork is part of the collection at the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway.
“The Quay at Bougival” captures a riverside scene with a sense of immediacy and movement that is characteristic of Impressionism. The brushwork is loose and expressive, revealing the play of light and color on the surfaces of the buildings and the water below. Morisot’s composition features an array of buildings lined up along the Quay, with the façades rendered in light colors softened by the atmospheric conditions of the time of day.
The expression of the water in the foreground is particularly notable. The reflections, ripples, and the lily pads on the surface are executed with short, broken strokes of blues, whites, and greens, suggesting the sparkling effect of sunlight on moving water. In the background, the sky shows a gentle gradient of color, from the blues of a clearing sky to the warm tones near the horizon, possibly indicating a setting sun.
The figures present on the Quay are portrayed with an economy of detail, yet they lend a sense of scale and liveliness to the scene. Their activities suggest the daily life of the riverside inhabitants. The overall impact is one of vibrancy and a fleeting moment captured on canvas, embodying the essence of the Impressionist movement with its focus on light, atmosphere, and the sensation of the observed world.
