Seascape, Night Effect 1866

Claude Monet likely painted this seascape with oil paint on canvas, using brushes to apply thick, visible strokes. The image conveys the way that industry invades even the most primal, natural landscapes. The real subject here is labor. We see this through the presence of ships, signs of human production, and a lighthouse -- objects intended to extend the hours of productivity into the night. The artist's brushwork, so full of energy, emphasizes the churning sea and sky. He renders the scene with a focus on mood and atmosphere rather than precise detail. Painting was itself a kind of labor, and Monet was acutely aware of the changing social and economic conditions of his time. Ultimately, the use of labor and materials here underscores the relationship between art, industry, and the transformation of the natural world.