Misty Morning on the Seine, Sunrise 1897

Editor: So here we have Monet's "Misty Morning on the Seine, Sunrise" from 1897, oil on canvas. I find it so ethereal, almost dissolving into pure color. What do you see in this piece that maybe I'm missing? Curator: The atmospheric perspective is certainly a key element. Note how Monet uses graduated tones to suggest depth. Consider, too, the brushstrokes. They are quite loose, aren't they? More about capturing the transient light than delineating precise forms. Editor: Absolutely, you can almost feel the mist softening everything. It feels like a symphony of color rather than a depiction of a specific place. Do you think that abstraction was intentional? Curator: Precisely! It is a formal exercise, no? Examine the way the cool blues and greens on the left balance the warm yellows and pinks of the sunrise on the right. He prioritizes the interplay of color and light. The subject, the Seine, is merely the pretext. It also has a strong symmetrical element; what could it suggest to you? Editor: I never considered the symmetry. It definitely creates a sense of stillness. I am wondering what sort of feeling the artist experienced and why. Curator: Ah, so are you concerned with the intention rather than effect of the artistic means here, or rather lack of an established sense? Do you agree with this point of view? Editor: Interesting points! Now, I am compelled to investigate Impressionism, exploring the formal aspects over pure representation, but also diving into its cultural setting, hopefully using a similar strategy. Curator: Precisely; such formal consideration allows one access into considering these impressionist intentions.