Personnages en bord de Seine 

"Personnages en bord de Seine" was painted by Maximilien Luce, though the exact date is unknown. Luce was a prominent figure in the Neo-Impressionist movement, as well as an avowed anarchist, so his art often served as a commentary on social issues and the lives of working-class people. Looking at the figures in the painting, we can ask, whose stories are often unseen or marginalized? Luce's focus on laborers, rendered with a sensitivity that acknowledges their dignity, disrupts the traditional art historical focus on the bourgeoisie. Consider how the figures are positioned in relation to the Seine and the Parisian skyline. The composition suggests a narrative about labor, leisure, and the relationship between the working class and the urban environment. Luce's commitment to representing the lives of ordinary people invites us to think about the role of art in bearing witness to the diverse experiences that constitute a society. In his paintings, Luce isn't just showing us a scene, he's asking us to consider who is included and who is left out of the picture.