The Stream of Robec at Rouen 1872

Claude Monet’s “The Stream of Robec at Rouen” (1872) is a plein air painting, meaning it was created outdoors, capturing the light and atmosphere of the moment. The painting showcases Monet's interest in capturing the effects of light and atmospheric conditions, a hallmark of his Impressionist style. The subject, a riverbank in Rouen, France, with smokestacks from nearby factories, contrasts the industrial with the natural. The looseness of the brushstrokes and the emphasis on color capture the fleeting moment, characteristic of Impressionism.