The Seine at Argenteuil

The Seine at Argenteuil (1892, Clark Art Institute) belongs to Caillebotte's late river series, painted in the final two years before his sudden death from a stroke in 1894. By 1892 his life was centered entirely on Petit-Gennevilliers and the Seine — sailing, gardening, and painting the river in its multiple moods and seasonal variations. The Clark's holding of this work places it within an exceptional collection of Impressionist masterpieces, ensuring its visibility alongside major works by Monet, Renoir, and Pissarro.

The Seine composition in Caillebotte's late manner captures the river's atmospheric breadth with a horizontal emphasis that emphasizes the river's extension in space. His water-surface handling is assured and varied, with reflections of sky, boats, and bank rendered through layered, directional strokes. The palette captures the cool, luminous quality of the Seine under overcast or soft direct light.