Rocks at Port Coton, the Lion Rock 1886

Claude Monet created this oil on canvas work, *Rocks at Port Coton, the Lion Rock,* with dynamic brushstrokes and a muted palette, capturing a seascape dominated by rugged rock formations and turbulent waters. Notice how the composition is structured by a strong horizontal division between the sky and sea, weighed down by the imposing cliff on the left. Monet's application of paint is particularly striking. He uses short, choppy strokes to construct the textures of the rocks and the movement of the sea, creating an almost palpable sense of energy. The interplay of light and shadow is carefully considered. It reveals the influence of Impressionism through its focus on capturing fleeting atmospheric conditions. Yet, it also pushes beyond the movement's representational limits by dissolving solid forms into a network of light and color. The image reflects a shift towards abstraction, where the materiality of paint and the act of painting become as important as the subject depicted. Monet's Port Coton invites us to consider how we perceive the natural world through the lens of artistic representation, challenging conventional notions of landscape painting.