Ships Riding on the Seine at Rouen 1872 - 1873

Claude Monet made this painting with oil on canvas, probably en plein air. You can see the rapid, broken brushstrokes, especially in the water, where short dashes of paint evoke the Seine’s movement. This technique suggests the fleeting, transient qualities of the scene, but also the speed of modern life. The ships themselves are not just picturesque details, but emblems of trade and industrialization. Rouen was a major port, and these ships would have been vital to the flow of goods and capital. The very texture of Monet’s painting—the visible, almost frantic application of paint—reflects the accelerated pace of work and consumption. The artist here used the traditional craft of painting to capture a distinctly modern and industrial scene. Considering materiality, making, and context gives us a richer understanding, and challenges how we think about both craft and fine art.