Marly-le-Roi c. 1875

Alfred Sisley made this painting, likely in the 1870s, using oil paint on canvas. Notice the quick, loose brushstrokes, a hallmark of Impressionism. Oil paint can be both fluid and textural, allowing Sisley to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere in this small town. The way he builds up layers of paint, especially in the sky and the road, gives a sense of depth and movement, almost as if you can feel the breeze. The ochre-colored earth and the various greens seem to vibrate against the blueish-gray sky. The paint is applied thinly in some areas, and more thickly in others, creating a varied surface that reflects light in interesting ways. Sisley’s technique is not just about depicting a scene, but about using the materiality of paint to evoke a particular mood and sensation, elevating a simple townscape to a work of art. By highlighting the labor involved in the production process, Sisley challenges traditional ideas about what constitutes fine art.