Soleil couchant sur la Seine à Lavacourt, effet d’hiver 1880

Claude Monet created this painting of a winter sunset on the Seine using commercially produced oil paints on canvas, a relatively recent innovation that allowed artists to paint en plein air. Monet was interested in capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere, and oil paint was the perfect medium for this, as it allowed him to build up layers of color and texture very quickly, "alla prima". Look closely, and you’ll see how the material influences the painting’s appearance, with each brushstroke remaining visible. Notice the texture and layering of the paint, capturing the scene's inherent qualities of substance and form. Consider the implications of choosing to depict an industrial, working landscape rather than a classical or historical scene, aligning with broader social issues of labor, class, and politics. Oil paint production itself became industrialized in the nineteenth century, lowering the cost of materials and increasing the mobility of artists. By emphasizing the importance of materials, making, and context in understanding the full meaning of the work, we challenge the traditional distinction between fine art and craft.