Flood at Moret (Inondation à Moret)

In the 1870s, the Seine and its tributaries, including the Loing, were flooded several times as a consequence of increased human impact on the environment, particularly as a result of agricultural deforestation. Drawn to the changing conditions of nature, Alfred Sisley painted the boatyard buildings and partly submerged trees on the banks of the Loing, choosing to depict a moment of calm in the flood’s aftermath. To capture the ephemeral conditions, he used sketchy, energetic brushstrokes, even leaving patches of canvas bare around the wispy, windswept trees.