Claude Monet’s “Impression, Sunrise” is a seminal painting in the history of art. It was first shown in what would later be known as the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874 and is credited to have inspired the name of the modernist art movement of ImpressionismImpressionism was an art movement of the 19th century developed in France, based on the practice of painting spontaneously out-doors (“en plein air”) rather than in the studio. Key impressionist subjects were everyday scenes and landscapes, in which the momentary and transient effects of sunlight should be captured. The artists worked directly in front of their subjects, using rapid brushwork More. Parisian art critiques faulted Monet’s painting technique for its unfinished appearance, the seemingly amateurish quality, for its light and loose brushworkMasterful brushwork is often the defining feature of great artists, where the brush becomes an extension of their arm, allowing paint to flow effortlessly onto the canvas. These artists demonstrate a profound understanding of their medium, knowing precisely when to apply thick, textured strokes or smooth, delicate ones. Their skill extends beyond mere color application; it's about the artistry of More, and his style of painting out of doors, en plein airThe French term “en plein air” means “out-doors”. Plein air painting therefore refers to the practice of painting an entire finished picture out of doors. Artists have long worked out of doors to create landscape sketches for the preparation of further studio work. The plein air approach, finishing entire pictures out-doors, however, began only in the 19th century, initiated by More.
Where is the picture “Impression, Sunrise“ today?
The original picture of “Impression, Sunrise” (1872) is currently on permanent display at the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris.
What’s in it?
In “Impression, Sunrise” Claude MonetFrench painter Claude Monet (1840 – 1926) was a key figure of the impressionist movement which started in the second half of the 19th century. During his long career, Monet focused on depicting leisure activities and plein air landscape painting. Born in Paris, his family moved to Le Havre in Normandy when Claude was 5 years old. From early on, More depicts the port of Le Havre, his hometown in the Northwest of France. He most likely completed the picture in a single sitting on the spot, standing at a window overlooking the harbour at sunrise. It gives a suggestion of the early morning mist clogged with industrial smoke of the city. Monet stripped away the details to a bare minimum: the dockyards in the background are merely suggested by a few brushstrokes, as are the dark vessels which contrast against the hazy background, interspersed with orange and yellow hues of the red sun. Little detail is only visible for some smaller boats in the foreground, seemingly being propelled by the water currents. In the middle ground, fishing boats, in the far back misty shapes of pack boats and steamships lie on the water. The colours are restrained, and the paint applied in very thin washes, at places even leaving the canvas visible, making the painting appear strongly atmospheric. It represents Monet’s swift attempt to capture a fleeting moment. The near abstract technique compels almost more attention than the subject matter itself.
What’s the context?
Claude MonetFrench painter Claude Monet (1840 – 1926) was a key figure of the impressionist movement which started in the second half of the 19th century. During his long career, Monet focused on depicting leisure activities and plein air landscape painting. Born in Paris, his family moved to Le Havre in Normandy when Claude was 5 years old. From early on, More had spent some time in London, where he had escaped the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71. There he had seen the work of J.M.W. Turner and James Whistler, which had a strong influence on his atmospheric landscape painting. Back in France, he focused on urban and industrial life, although his vision was more that of a landscape painter. Monet created an entire series of paintings depicting the port of Le Havre, showing the harbour during dawn and night, during dawn and dusk, from varying viewpoints. “Impression, Sunrise” is the most famous among this series of pictures.
Impressionist artists weren’t interested in painting history, mythology, or religious themes, but simply in what they saw, felt, and thought. They used looser brushworkMasterful brushwork is often the defining feature of great artists, where the brush becomes an extension of their arm, allowing paint to flow effortlessly onto the canvas. These artists demonstrate a profound understanding of their medium, knowing precisely when to apply thick, textured strokes or smooth, delicate ones. Their skill extends beyond mere color application; it's about the artistry of More and lighter colours and abandoned the three-dimensional perspective. This approach was unacceptable in the eyes of art authorities at that time, namely the Académie des Beaux-ArtsThe Académie des Beaux-Arts is a learned society as one of the five academies of the Institut de France. It was created in 1816 in Paris through merging respective academies for painting, sculpture, music, and architecture, which were all founded during the 17th century. The Académie acted as authority to preserve traditional French painting standards including content and style. In More in Paris, which rejected to show the Impressionist’s artwork at their annual exhibition, the “Salon”. Several rejected artists, including Claude MonetFrench painter Claude Monet (1840 – 1926) was a key figure of the impressionist movement which started in the second half of the 19th century. During his long career, Monet focused on depicting leisure activities and plein air landscape painting. Born in Paris, his family moved to Le Havre in Normandy when Claude was 5 years old. From early on, More, August Renoir, Edgar Degas, Berthe Morisot, and Alfred Sisley among others, decided to show their artwork in their own exhibition in 1874, which seemed unacceptable to the public.
Chatter and Prattle
Claude MonetFrench painter Claude Monet (1840 – 1926) was a key figure of the impressionist movement which started in the second half of the 19th century. During his long career, Monet focused on depicting leisure activities and plein air landscape painting. Born in Paris, his family moved to Le Havre in Normandy when Claude was 5 years old. From early on, More – Facts:
- At the first independent exhibition of the rejected artists, “Impression, Sunrise” was among the most famous pictures, not so much because of having a crucial status within Monet’s oeuvre, but rather for the satirical comments it attracted from art critics and the public, which gave rise to the name of the impressionist movement: Days after the exhibition, an article appeared in the satirical journal Le Charivari, in which journalist Louis Leroy described a fictitious conversation between two visitors, one of them exclaiming: “ImpressionismImpressionism was an art movement of the 19th century developed in France, based on the practice of painting spontaneously out-doors (“en plein air”) rather than in the studio. Key impressionist subjects were everyday scenes and landscapes, in which the momentary and transient effects of sunlight should be captured. The artists worked directly in front of their subjects, using rapid brushwork More, I knew it; after all, I’m impressed so it must be an impression…What freedom! What ease of workmanship! Wallpaper in its embryonic state is more finished than this seascape!” Leroy’s article was entitled ‘The Exhibition of the Impressionists’ – a label that stuck thereafter.
- The original painting “Impression, Sunrise” was stolen from the Musée Marmottan by Philippe Jamin and Youssef Khimoun in 1985. It was recovered and returned to the museum in 1990, and put back onto permanent display in 1991.
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Daniel Wildenstein (2010): Monet or The Triumph of Impressionism
Ross King (2016):Mad Enchantment: Claude Monet and the Painting of the Water Lilies
Christoph Heinrich (2015): Monet (BASIC ART) (French Edition)
Simona Bartolena (2011): Monet: Masters of Art
Dominique Lobstein (2013): Claude Monet’s Gardens at Giverny
