“The Seine at Bercy” is an artwork completed in 1878 by Paul Cezanne, a renowned artist associated with the Impressionism movement. This cityscape is rendered in oil on canvas and measures 56 by 72 centimeters. The painting captures a vibrant depiction of the urban landscape along the Seine River.
In the artwork, we observe a bustling riverside scene at Bercy. The Seine River is depicted with gentle ripples, reflecting the sky and the activities along its banks. Moored boats, one of which is a large barge equipped with a crane, suggest the commercial nature of this locale. On the riverbank, figures engage with the boats, some appearing to be workers attending to loading or offloading duties. A pair of horses harnessed to a wagon can be seen in the foreground, highlighting the labor and transport that would have been integral to this area.
The sky is a triumph of Impressionist technique, with swirling, energetic brushstrokes of blues and whites, and hints of warmer hues suggesting moving clouds and the changing light of a dynamic sky. Structures line the far bank of the Seine, with architectural details implied rather than meticulously depicted. A bridge spans the river in the distance, lending a sense of depth and connecting the two sides of the cityscape. The painting is a dynamic mix of natural and urban elements, a characteristic snapshot of life and industry in 19th-century Paris as seen through the eyes of a master of Impressionism.
