Rouen Cathedral, the Portal, Morning Fog 1894

Claude Monet made this painting of Rouen Cathedral using oil on canvas. The magic of Impressionism lies in how the material – here, paint – is handled. Monet wasn't interested in photographic accuracy. Instead, he used rapid, broken brushstrokes to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. Notice how the rough texture of the paint creates a shimmering, almost vibrating surface? This technique defied the academic tradition of smooth, blended brushwork. What makes this work so compelling is how Monet translated his direct sensory experience onto the canvas. There's a visible record of his labor, the quick, repetitive gestures that built up the image layer by layer. This evokes the speed of modern life, and a more direct, honest relationship between the artist, the subject, and the act of painting itself. This was quite a contrast with the highly finished, illusionistic paintings of the past.