Open Yet Solidly Built: Caillebotte's Sailboats at Argenteuil

A clear sky, shimmering ripples, and white sailboats soaked in bright light are the first things that catch the eye here. The whole composition carries a sense of stability, which comes from Caillebotte's preference for structurally precise composition over what most other Impressionists went for. As a result, his paintings manage to feel airy and open while also staying tightly, solidly constructed.

Argenteuil, a riverside village just outside Paris, was a favorite retreat of Monet and Renoir. Caillebotte loved sailing himself, and spent plenty of time there with friends, often painting the surrounding scenery. That leisurely mood he enjoyed, along with the breeze over the water and the glitter of sunlight, comes through here with real simplicity and clarity.