Fishing Boats at Sea 1868

Claude Monet painted "Fishing Boats at Sea," using his innovative techniques to capture a fleeting moment on the water. Monet was part of a generation grappling with shifting social and economic structures, as well as the advent of modern technology in the 19th century. In this period, there was a romantic interest in maritime life, however, what’s often overlooked is the labor and the lives of the working class who risked their lives on the sea. One can imagine the bodies of the fishermen, who faced the elements daily to provide for their families. The dark silhouettes of the boats against the luminous sky evoke both the beauty and the harsh realities of their existence. Monet once said he wanted to paint "as a bird sings". In this spirit, consider how he captures the sensory experience of being at sea, the rocking of the boat, the smell of the salt, and the immensity of the sky. Monet invites us to reflect on our relationship with the natural world and with each other.