The Port of Le Havre, Night Effect 1873

Claude Monet made this painting of Le Havre at night, using oil on canvas. It is fascinating to think about how rapidly French society was changing at the time Monet was painting. The industrial revolution brought new forms of transport, such as steamships, which were changing the function of harbors like this one. Meanwhile, Paris was being redesigned, and the art world was in flux. New institutions like the Salon des Refusés challenged the norms of the academy. Notice how Monet’s painting gives us an impression of the harbor, without precisely defining it. He represents a modern, working port, full of activity. It's a long way from the classical landscapes that had dominated painting. What might a more academic painter have made of this scene? How would they have presented it to the public? We can use shipping records, newspaper reports, and other historical documents to understand more about this scene. The meaning of art is always influenced by its social and institutional context.