Saint Mammes 1885

Alfred Sisley painted "Saint Mammes" with oil on canvas, capturing a French riverside village. The late 19th century in France saw the rise of Impressionism, a movement that challenged the conservative academic traditions of the French Salon. Artists like Sisley sought to capture the fleeting moments of everyday life, rather than grand historical or mythological scenes. Sisley's choice of subject matter, a humble village rather than a bustling city, reflects a broader shift in artistic taste toward the un-monumental and un-heroic. The painting also reflects the growing popularity of leisure and tourism as more people were able to travel outside of urban areas. Studying exhibition records and reviews from the period can reveal how Sisley's work was received by critics and the public. These resources can help us understand the painting as not just a representation of a place, but as a product of specific social and institutional forces.