The Bridge at Villeneuve-la-Garenne

Alfred Sisley painted this cheerful stretch of the Seine in 1872, just as Impressionism was finding its footing as a bold new approach to art. The scene shows Villeneuve-la-Garenne, a small town north of Paris, where an iron bridge with heavy stone supports stretches across the left side of the canvas. Small boats bob along the riverbank, people move about near the pale houses, and warm afternoon light spreads across everything. The water is where Sisley really lets loose, dabbing quick flecks of paint that catch the sunlight, while soft clouds float across a clear blue sky.

Rivers and bridges were among Sisley's favorite subjects, and he came back to them throughout his life. Though born in France to British parents, he spent almost his whole career there and stood shoulder to shoulder with Monet and Renoir as one of the true Impressionists. His story has a sad side, since he struggled with money for years and won little recognition while alive. Paintings like this one, with their honest affection for everyday places, have earned him the appreciation that escaped him during his lifetime.