Rouen Cathedral at Sunset 1894

Claude Monet made this painting of Rouen Cathedral at sunset in 1894 with oil on canvas. What are the politics of imagery when Monet decides to paint a series of paintings of the Rouen Cathedral? Consider the social conditions that shape artistic production. Monet was working during a time of rapid social change in France, and his impressionistic style reflected this. The art world, which had been dominated by the Academy, was in a moment of change, and artists had to navigate that changing environment. By painting the same subject at different times of day, Monet was engaging with the shifting nature of reality in the modern world. Art historians draw on a range of resources such as letters, archives, and other documents to interpret works of art. Social and institutional contexts are crucial for understanding how art challenges or reinforces the existing norms.