Rouen Cathedral Façade and Tour d’Albane 1894

Claude Monet captured the Rouen Cathedral Façade and Tour d’Albane on canvas with oil paints at an unknown date. As an impressionist, Monet was interested in capturing fleeting moments of light and atmosphere and challenging the conservative French Academy's preference for historical or allegorical subjects. The image before you uses hazy blues and purples to depict the cathedral, not as a symbol of religious authority, but as a structure deeply affected by the ambient light and atmospheric conditions. The cool palette and soft focus create a sense of transience, downplaying the cathedral's imposing architecture. Monet made this work in France, a country with a deeply rooted Catholic history, and he would have been aware of the complex relationship between the church, the state, and the everyday lives of French citizens. It’s interesting to remember that to truly appreciate such works we need to consider the cultural context in which it was made.