The Valley of the Seine, from the Hills of Giverny

Theodore Robinson

National Gallery of Art

From atop a high hill, we look across a broad valley leading to a winding river in this loosely painted horizontal landscape. The scene is created entirely with visible brushstrokes in fresh and vibrant green and shimmering and smoky blues. The hill slopes from the right edge of the painting down to the valley, which extends into the distance, angling slightly to our right alongside the river. Darker green trees are along both sides of the river, and a few buildings line the far bank. The land beyond rises to sapphire-blue hills along the horizon, which comes about two-thirds of the way up the composition. A few white clouds dot the robin’s egg-blue sky above.