The Bend of the Seine at Lavacourt, Winter 1879

Claude Monet made this painting of the Bend of the Seine at Lavacourt in winter, using oil paint on canvas. Here, Monet’s focus is on the material qualities of light. Notice how he builds up the forms of the houses and trees with brisk strokes of paint, barely delineating their edges, instead focusing on the way light interacts with these surfaces. The water shimmers with broken color, each dab registering a fleeting reflection. It's interesting to think about the labour involved in creating this impression. Monet wasn’t just capturing a scene; he was actively constructing it, one brushstroke at a time. This painstaking process transforms the mundane into something extraordinary. By emphasizing the act of painting itself – the texture, color, and form – Monet elevated the status of craft, challenging the traditional hierarchy that separated it from fine art. It’s a reminder that the true value of art lies not just in what it depicts, but in how it’s made.