Au Bord Du Fjord De Christiania 1895

Claude Monet painted "Au Bord Du Fjord De Christiania" in 1895, using oil paint on canvas. At first glance, this seems a world away from craft. But let’s consider it more closely. Monet worked en plein air, or outdoors, capturing fleeting moments of light and atmosphere. He applied the paint in short, visible brushstrokes, layering colors to create a sense of depth and movement. This wasn't just about aesthetics; it was a labor-intensive process. Each stroke represents a deliberate action, a physical engagement with the material. Consider the conditions Monet endured - the cold, the wind, the changing light. These factors all influenced his mark-making, imbuing the painting with a sense of immediacy and lived experience. While "fine art" is often seen as separate from the practical concerns of craft, Monet's work reminds us that all art is rooted in material reality, skilled practice, and hard work.