The Sunken Road in the Cliff at Varangeville 1882

This is "The Sunken Road in the Cliff at Varangeville" by Claude Monet, created with oil paint on canvas. Monet uses the fluidity of his materials, and the movement of his brushstrokes to portray the French landscape. Look closely and you'll notice how Monet has built up the image in layers, varying the direction and thickness of his brushstrokes to capture the light reflecting off the cliffs, and the path that lies between them. We can see this in the choppy surface of the paint application. The strokes of color blend together to create a sense of vibrancy, with touches of bright color suggesting the abundant growth along the sunken road. The painting is a testament to the skill and physical effort required to create such a dynamic composition. Monet, like many Impressionists, chose to work en plein air, directly engaging with the landscape, and allowing the environment itself to affect the creative process. His application of the paint, its texture and dynamism, emphasizes the importance of making and materiality in understanding the significance of the artwork.