The Moret Bridge at Sunset 1892

Alfred Sisley captured "The Moret Bridge at Sunset" on canvas with oil paints during the late 19th century. Sisley, though British, painted this scene in France, immersing himself in the Impressionist movement. The Impressionists turned away from historical and mythological subject matter that defined the Academy. Instead, they focused on the everyday, and on the experience of perception. Here, the artist is capturing a fleeting moment in time through the rendering of light and atmosphere. How did the rise of industrial capitalism and the growth of cities change what artists valued? The Impressionists looked to capture the immediacy of modern life, and the city and its surrounding landscapes were transformed by industry and new forms of transport. For an art historian, a painting like this opens up questions about the changing social values of the time and the institutional contexts for art's production. Research into exhibition records and critical reviews can reveal how such paintings were received and understood by contemporary audiences.