Morning on the Seine 1898

Claude Monet captured this view of the Seine in oil paint, and one’s eye is immediately drawn to the flowing water. In many cultures water is life-giving, symbolizing purity and renewal. Consider how water flows throughout art history: from ancient Egyptian art, where the Nile was revered as the source of life, to Renaissance paintings, where water is often used in baptismal scenes. Water's reflective nature leads us to contemplate its depths, both literally and metaphorically. In Monet’s painting, the Seine is not just a river, but a mirror reflecting the sky. It invites us to lose ourselves in the dreamlike interplay of light and shadow. The way Monet captures the water evokes a feeling of tranquility, yet it also subtly hints at the deeper, more mysterious aspects of the human psyche. Just as water conceals what lies beneath its surface, this painting taps into our subconscious, reminding us of the hidden depths within ourselves.