Saint-Servan c. 1895

Armand Guillaumin created Saint-Servan with oil paint on canvas, typical materials for landscape painting in his era. Look closely, and you will see that Guillaumin applied the paint in short strokes. This technique captures the subtle shifts of light and atmosphere over water. But it also signifies labor, as does the painting itself. Guillaumin was part of a generation of artists who worked en plein air, meaning "in open air," leaving the studio to engage directly with their subjects. It's important to remember that for much of the 19th century, paint was produced industrially, packaged in tubes, and available for purchase. This accessibility allowed artists like Guillaumin to become mobile observers of the changing world. The very act of painting, then, became a kind of work, mirroring the industrial labor that was transforming society. Guillaumin's Saint-Servan, therefore, is not only a beautiful scene, but a testament to a new way of seeing and making art.