Rowboat on the Seine at Jeufosse 1884

Claude Monet painted this scene of a rowboat on the Seine at Jeufosse with oil on canvas. It is not just what Monet depicts but also how he goes about it. Notice the quick, loose brushstrokes and their layering to create a sense of depth and light. This was a departure from the smooth, almost invisible brushwork of academic painting. Monet's technique was a product of his time. Ready-made paints in tubes allowed artists to work outdoors, capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. The very act of painting en plein air, as it was called, democratized art-making. The portability of materials, newly available as commodities, made painting a more immediate and accessible activity. Monet's focus on the everyday, the industrialization of art supplies, and the rejection of established techniques all speak to broader shifts in society and culture. It blurs the line between traditional art and the modern world.