Bank of the Seine in Autumn 1876

Alfred Sisley, a British artist working in France, painted *Bank of the Seine in Autumn* with oil on canvas. Sisley, like many impressionist painters, focused on landscapes. The Franco-Prussian War had ended not long before Sisley began consistently painting landscapes en plein air. The painting shows us a scene in which nature is the dominant element. Figures appear, but they are small, perhaps illustrating the individual’s place within the broader world. In a time of rapid social change, these landscapes offered a return to something constant and familiar. A sense of peace pervades, but the subdued colors hint at the quiet melancholy of the season. Sisley himself said, "Every painting shows a spot of which you remember something." Sisley’s landscapes became a way for viewers to connect with specific locations and their own memories. This painting invites us to contemplate the passage of time and our relationship with the environment, reflecting both personal introspection and shared experiences.