Rouen Cathedral in the Fog 1894

Claude Monet made this painting of Rouen Cathedral in the Fog with oil on canvas. Monet's use of this traditional medium is not necessarily the most interesting thing about it. Instead, it is his technique which has imbued the artwork with meaning. Observe his short, broken brushstrokes and varied textures, built up over time in layers of different color. This emphasis on the handmade quality of the painting gives it a tactile, almost sculptural presence. Monet’s many paintings of the Rouen Cathedral, are products of labor: both the physical labor of the artist and the centuries of work that went into building the cathedral itself. By focusing on atmosphere and light, Monet reminds us that even the most solid-seeming objects are always in flux, subject to the forces of nature. Ultimately, Monet’s work encourages us to appreciate the handmade, emphasizing the importance of materiality, process, and context in our understanding of fine art.