La Seine Près De Rouen 1865

Johan Barthold Jongkind created this oil painting of the Seine near Rouen. Oil paint's viscous nature allows for layering and blending, visible in the sky's subtle gradations and the water's reflections. Jongkind’s brushstrokes, particularly in the sky, show an understanding of the material's capacity to capture atmospheric effects, using thin glazes and impasto to suggest light and movement. Paint was industrially produced at this time and readily available, which facilitated a shift towards outdoor painting and an increase in artistic production for a growing consumer market. The scene depicts sailboats, essential for trade, mirroring the rise of capitalism in the 19th century and referencing maritime labor and global exchange. Consider how the availability of the painting materials, the depiction of commercial vessels, and the artist's engagement with a market for landscapes all reflect the social and economic contexts of Jongkind's time.