The Small Arm of the Seine at Argenteuil 1876

Claude Monet made "The Small Arm of the Seine at Argenteuil" with oil paints and brushes. These were the tools of the academic elite, but Monet used them to paint scenes of everyday life. Notice the texture of the paint. Monet applied it in thick layers, or impasto, capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. The brushstrokes are visible, energetic, reflecting a modern sensibility. Monet was less interested in perfect representation, than in the sensory experience of the river and the sky. The rise of industrial capitalism transformed the landscape, as factories began to spring up along the Seine. This changed the environment, and also people’s daily lives. But Monet wasn't making social commentary. He was simply showing what he saw, in a way that was new and challenging. This is why paying attention to materials and making is so crucial. It helps us see the world through the artist's eyes, and to understand the cultural values of their time.