Bypass Route of the Abreuvoir de Marly-le-Roi, Snowy Weather
- Original dimensions
- 55 x 46 cm
- Museum
- Emil G. Bührle Foundation and Collection
- Year
- 1875
Scene depicted
This canvas depicts a peaceful scene of a winding path bypassing the Watering Place of Marly-le-Roi, covered in fresh snow. The landscape, enhanced by the wintry brightness, embodies the harmony between nature and man, as a few silhouettes advance, motionless like the frozen moment that Sisley chose to immortalize. The almost dreamlike quality of the composition transports us into a contemplative spirit, capturing the melancholic beauty of the moment.
Historical context
Created in 1875, this painting is set in the picturesque and wintry backdrop of Marly-le-Roi, a charming town in Yvelines, France. Alfred Sisley , an iconic figure of the Impressionist movement, immortalizes a fleeting moment, capturing the purity of a landscape under snow. Currently exhibited at the Emil G. Bührle Foundation and Collection , this canvas measures 55 x 46 cm, an ideal size to appreciate the finesse of the work.
Place in the artist's career
This painting marks a pivotal period in Sisley's career, where his Impressionist style reaches a palpable maturity. When compared to works such as “The Loing at Moret” and “Snow at Louveciennes,” one observes the evolution of his treatment of light and colors, signifying an ever-deeper exploration of shadows and reflections, immersing the viewer in an almost tangible reality.
Anecdote
“The morning light on the snow has always fascinated me.” This quote could resonate in Sisley's mind as he painted his masterpiece facing the Watering Place, one winter morning. The enveloping calm, the silence of nature covered in a white cloak... each snowflake seems to dance, each light sparkles, carrying the viewer into a world where time stands still.