Landscape with Thunderstorm, Vetheuil, 1880 1880

Claude Monet painted Landscape with Thunderstorm, Vetheuil in 1880, using oil on canvas. This landscape, painted during a tumultuous period in Monet's life, reflects both personal grief and the broader societal shifts of late 19th-century France. Monet had moved to Vétheuil in 1878, where he faced financial difficulties, the illness of his wife Camille, and the weight of caring for both his children and the family of Ernest Hoschedé. The visible drama of the sky can be seen as a projection of this emotional distress. It speaks to the precariousness of life, particularly for women and children dependent on the success and stability of the male artist figure. The bold brushstrokes and turbulent sky challenge the traditional, idealized landscapes, offering a more raw and subjective view of nature. Monet said, "I am following Nature without being able to grasp her." Here, that pursuit feels particularly fraught. The painting serves as a reminder of the intertwined relationship between personal experience and artistic expression, as well as the social and economic realities that shape both.