Banks of the Loing at Saint Mammes 1885

Alfred Sisley painted this oil on canvas, *Banks of the Loing at Saint Mammes*, in France. The image depicts a tranquil scene of a town along a river, but let’s think about what this meant in the context of late 19th-century France. The Impressionists, including Sisley, were turning away from academic painting styles and subjects favored by the state-sponsored Salon. Sisley here captures a slice of modern life, not in the city of Paris, but in its outskirts. The composition is divided horizontally, with the river taking up a significant portion, reflecting the sky and the town on its surface. The houses, with their red roofs, are simple and unadorned. The Impressionists were often criticized for their lack of social commentary, yet their choice to represent everyday life, away from the grand historical or mythological narratives, can be seen as a subtle but significant shift in the politics of imagery. To understand this better, look at exhibition reviews from the time and at Impressionist manifestos. Art is always contingent on social context.