The Banks Of The Seine In The Surroundings Of Rolleboise 1935

Maximilien Luce painted "The Banks Of The Seine In The Surroundings Of Rolleboise" with what looks like oil on canvas, capturing a scene where the river meets the land. I love how the strokes of paint are so visible, they don't try to hide the process at all. The paint is applied with a kind of chunky directness, especially in the water and the foliage of the trees. The surface is built up, layer by layer. Look at the way he uses greens and browns, not blended smoothly, but laid on top of each other, creating texture and depth. There’s a passage on the right, where the path is, that feels almost sculptural because the paint is so thick. It’s like he’s building the landscape as much as he's painting it. This feels like a cousin to some of the Barbizon school landscapes, but with a bit more grit. It's a reminder that every painting is a sum of decisions, and each mark carries its own weight.