Banks of the Seine at Lavacourt 1878

Claude Monet painted ‘Banks of the Seine at Lavacourt’ using oil paints, a medium that has been central to Western art for centuries. But what's truly remarkable here is how Monet applied it. Instead of carefully blending the colors, he used short, visible brushstrokes. This technique, known as 'broken color,' gives the painting a vibrant, shimmering quality. Look closely, and you'll see how each dab of paint seems to vibrate with light. This method allowed Monet to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere, which was a primary concern for the Impressionists. The labor-intensive process of painting en plein air, or outdoors, was crucial to Monet's project. He aimed to depict nature directly, as he experienced it. By emphasizing the process of painting itself, Monet challenged the traditional hierarchy that placed academic painting above all other forms of artistic expression. This approach elevated the act of seeing and recording the world around us. It wasn't just about what was depicted, but how it was depicted.