The Seine
c. 1902
Henry Ossawa Tanner painted this dreamy view of the Seine River in Paris around 1902, capturing the city in a soft, hazy light that feels like early morning or late evening. The twin towers of the Saint-Sulpice church loom in the background, silhouetted against a sky brushed with pastel pinks and yellows that reflect beautifully on the water's surface. Tanner, an African American artist who moved to France to escape the racial discrimination he faced in the United States, found a sense of peace and freedom in Paris that often shines through in his atmospheric landscapes. Although trained in a strict academic style, here he uses loose, textured brushstrokes to create a gentle, almost musical rhythm, blending his formal skills with a sensitive eye for light and mood.
- Technique
- Oil paint