Rouen Cathedral, Sunlight Effect 1894

Claude Monet created this artwork in France using oil paint on canvas. The visible texture comes from the rapid, repetitive brushstrokes. This way of working implies the intensity of an industrial process, similar to the repetitive tasks performed by laborers in factories at the time. We can imagine Monet almost churning out paintings as though he were on an assembly line, responding to the demands of the commercial art market. It’s worth thinking about the amount of work involved in producing such an artwork, from the preparation of the canvas and mixing of the paints, to the application of each individual brushstroke. The painting's physical presence is shaped by color and light that are the result of labor. By considering materials, making, and the broader social context, we gain a deeper understanding of Monet's work, blurring the lines between fine art and the world around us.