Argenteuil, The Seine 1872

This is Claude Monet’s, "Argenteuil, The Seine." Painted during a time of immense social and political upheaval, Monet, like many artists, sought refuge in the sensory experience of the world. This painting reflects the rapid industrialization and urbanization of France, yet it also embodies the shifting cultural values of the late 19th century. Monet, though privileged, sought to capture fleeting moments of beauty. You see this in the way light dances on the water. In his paintings we see the rise of a middle class with more leisure time and more money to spend. We feel an emphasis on personal experience over traditional academic themes. But, this intimacy was not afforded to everyone; it was decidedly gendered and classed. Consider how this painting, with its soft brushstrokes and tranquil scene, both embraces and obscures the complex societal changes happening at the time. It invites us to reflect on whose experiences are traditionally valued and whose stories remain untold.