The Plain of Colombes, White Frost 1873

Claude Monet made this painting on canvas with oil paints in the late 19th century. The painting's hazy, atmospheric quality is achieved through loose brushwork and a focus on the effects of light and color. Monet used small strokes to build up layers of pigment, creating a sense of depth and texture. These industrial pigments were relatively new, made possible through advances in chemistry. He chose to depict an unidealized view of the French countryside, as industrialization was well underway. The painting process itself is tied to wider social issues of labor and consumption; the availability of mass-produced paints allowed artists to create works more efficiently, but it also changed the nature of artistic production. Monet's focus on the fleeting effects of light and weather speaks to the changing experience of modern life, as well as its impact on the landscape. Paying attention to the materials, the making, and the wider context in which the painting was produced allows us to fully appreciate it. It also challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.