Mouth of the Seine

John Henry Twachtman was a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, but spent much of his early career traveling and studying in Europe. He was a founding member of “The Ten,” a group of independent impressionist painters. Mouth of the Seine depicts a scene in the French seaside resort of Honfleur; however, the artist is far more concerned with color, composition, and structure than with the specific rendering of a particular location. The subdued, tonalist color palette creates a hazy atmosphere, and the landscape lacks any easily identifiable landmarks. The composition is anchored by the two boats and their corresponding reflections in the calm water. This painting came to the Telfair by the bequest of Elizabeth Millar Bullard, a Telfair board member who collected on the advice of Gari Melchers.