Inondation à Moret (1879)

Sisley, Alfred (1839-1899)

Inondation à Moret (Flood at Moret)
1879
Oil on canvas, 54 x 71.8 cm
Brooklyn MuseumNew York

In the 1870s, the Seine and its tributaries, including the Loing, were flooded several times as a consequence of increased human impact on the environment, particularly as a result of agricultural deforestation. Drawn to the changing conditions of nature, Alfred Sisley painted the boatyard buildings and partly submerged trees on the banks of the Loing, choosing to depict a moment of calm in the flood’s aftermath. To capture the ephemeral conditions, he used sketchy, energetic brushstrokes, even leaving patches of canvas bare around the wispy, windswept trees. (BkM)

See also:

• Moret-sur-Loing (France)