The Seine at Courbevoie

The view of this painting is taken from the island of La Grande Jatte, looking southwest towards the Parisian suburb of Courbevoie. There is a bridge in the background, cut off at the left. The massive forms of large villas arranged against the sky, and in the foreground we see a little figure in a boat, sketched in with only a few brushstrokes.

At first glance, this tiny painting (it measures only 15.5 by 24.5 centimeters!) appears to be a spontaneous, impressionistic study of a river bank. On closer examination, however, we can see that the artist has taken great pains to represent his subject. The shimmering evening light and the dancing reflections on the water are reproduced with intensity and precision. The carefully studied color combinations are also remarkable: soft green and gray-blue tones are brought to life through a touch of bright yellow or pink. The warm, orange-brown of the panel, visible underneath the layers of paint, also plays a role in the composition.