PLEIN AIR HERITAGE
Born to English parents in France, Alfred Sisley (1839-1899) remained something of an outsider his entire life. Although he’s recognized along with friends Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet as one of the crucial figures in Impressionism, he never enjoyed their level of success or recognition. While many of his peers explored urban life and the effects of industrialization in their work, Sisley remained focused on tranquil landscapes. In the summer of 1877, he moved to Sèvres, a suburb of Paris, where he painted a series of views of the town, its quays, and the local bridge over the Seine. Characterized by a fresh, breezy atmosphere, the paintings portray a range of riverside activities. In this case, he’s added a small figure on the bank to draw the eye and add interest. Rarely…