Camille with Green Parasol 1876

Claude Monet made this painting, "Camille with Green Parasol," using oil paint on canvas. These are quite traditional materials, but what’s remarkable is how Monet applied them. Look closely, and you'll see countless small touches of pigment. Each one registers a moment of perception; it’s a record of light, color, and atmosphere. Monet built up the image through many hours of attentive labor, a process very different from the mass production happening in factories at the time. Rather than depicting a grand historical event or a mythological scene, Monet focused on an everyday moment, making the invisible visible through his attention to detail. So, though painting seems far removed from industrial production, both share the artist's effort, his labor, and his experience in making. This work challenges us to rethink traditional artistic practices, as well as our relationship to labor, and the value we place on both.