The Bourgogne Lock at Moret, Spring 1882

Alfred Sisley's "The Bourgogne Lock at Moret, Spring", painted in France, captures a moment in the life of its waterways. Sisley was deeply engaged with the French landscape, a common theme for impressionist painters, but the choice of a lock is particularly evocative. Canals and locks were vital arteries of commerce and industry in 19th-century France. This painting thus connects to broader economic and social structures. Note the workers, almost incidental to the scene, but crucial to the functioning of this transport network. The painting is not simply a pretty view, but evidence of a society at work, and is infused with cultural meaning. To fully appreciate Sisley, we need to delve into the period, examining the social and economic conditions of France, and the institutional history of its transport infrastructure.