The Ball Shaped Tree, Argenteuil 1876

Claude Monet made this painting, The Ball Shaped Tree, Argenteuil, with oil on canvas. Look closely, and you will see that it's made with loose brushstrokes to capture a fleeting moment in time, evoking a sense of atmosphere and light. Monet, like other impressionists, often painted outdoors, en plein air, to directly capture the effects of light and color. This approach was facilitated by the development of pre-mixed paints in tubes, allowing artists to easily transport and use a wide range of colors. This shift, while seemingly small, was important. It freed artists from the studio and the constraints of traditional artistic production, allowing for greater experimentation and a focus on capturing the sensory experience of the world around them. The emphasis on materiality and process in impressionism challenges the traditional art historical focus on subject matter and representation. It highlights the importance of the artist's hand and the physical qualities of the paint itself in creating meaning and beauty.