Chrysanthemums 1881

Claude Monet created this painting of chrysanthemums using oil on canvas, a traditional medium for fine art. Monet’s application of paint is critical to understanding the work. His short, loose brushstrokes capture the texture and ephemeral nature of the flowers. The vase, too, is made up of strokes of color, suggesting its form and the light reflecting off its surface. The labor here, while not physical in the way of a potter shaping clay, is evident in Monet’s active engagement with his materials. Consider the time it takes to master this technique, layering color to create depth and movement. Monet challenges the conventional hierarchy that places painting above craft, elevating the act of seeing and translating to a level of skilled making. This emphasis on process invites us to appreciate the materiality of paint and the artist’s hand, blurring the lines between art, craft, and the everyday act of observing the world around us.