Banks of the Seine 

Charles François Daubigny painted Banks of the Seine with oil on canvas. The piece is dominated by a horizontal composition, where the tranquil river reflects the soft, diffused light of the sky. The subdued palette of browns, greens, and grays creates a serene, almost melancholic atmosphere. Daubigny’s loose brushwork and attention to capturing the fleeting effects of light align him with the emerging Impressionist movement. Yet, there’s also a structural rigor here. Notice how the vertical trees on either side of the river act as framing devices, drawing our eye towards the horizon line. The reflections in the water create a mirrored world, blurring the boundaries between reality and its representation. This interest in the interplay between perception and reality reflects a broader artistic concern of the time: questioning the nature of representation itself. The painting is more than just a depiction of a landscape; it's an exploration of how we see and interpret the world around us. Through its carefully balanced composition and subtle tonal variations, Daubigny invites us to contemplate the shifting relationship between nature and artifice.