La Seine 1850 - 1860

Félix Ziem captured this Seine River landscape in oil paint, using fluid brushstrokes to evoke a tranquil scene. The materiality of oil paint is key here. Ziem layers the pigment to build depth and atmosphere, working wet-on-wet, and using thin glazes to create luminosity. The brushwork itself is expressive, ranging from delicate touches in the sky to thicker, impasto strokes in the foreground, suggesting a sense of movement and reflection on the water's surface. The painting feels immediate. Consider the social context in which this work was made, oil paint has a long history of art production, and the work is tied to histories of creative practices and aesthetics, alongside that of fine arts. Ziem, through skillful manipulation of the medium, elevated a simple scene into a poetic reverie. Ultimately, an appreciation of the materials, and making, allows for a richer understanding of Ziem's vision, and challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.