Moret sur Loing, Morning 1892

Alfred Sisley created this painting of Moret-sur-Loing in the morning light, using oil on canvas. Sisley built up the scene using visible brushstrokes. Look closely, and you’ll see how the texture of the paint itself contributes to the overall effect. Impressionist painters were interested in capturing fleeting moments in time, and this interest extended to the materials they used. The shift to painting *en plein air* was enabled by improvements in the manufacture and availability of art supplies. Easily transportable canvases, and paint in tubes, enabled artists to move away from the studio to quickly capture landscapes and atmospheric conditions. Sisley's painting demonstrates how new modes of production gave rise to a democratization of the art world. The artist's materials, methods, and subject matter reflect the rise of the middle class, along with its leisure activities. The painting is, in effect, a celebration of modern life.