San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk 1908

Monet made this painting of San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk with oil on canvas, and it's like he's trying to catch a fleeting moment. You can see how the marks aren't really about detail, but more about feeling. The colors are mixed right on the canvas, with strokes of orange, yellow, and blue creating this shimmering effect. I always think that the way a painter handles their materials is super important; it's like they're having a conversation with the paint. Look at the way the light hits the water; he’s used short, broken strokes to give it that sense of movement. It’s not about perfectly depicting water, but more about capturing the sensation of light reflecting off it. This reminds me a bit of Turner, actually, with that same interest in light and atmosphere. But Monet’s got his own thing going, a focus on the immediate experience that feels very modern. Ultimately, painting is all about possibilities, not answers.