Small Country Farm in Bordighera 1884

Claude Monet painted "Small Country Farm in Bordighera" to capture the light and landscape of the Italian Riviera. Bordighera, a place of refuge for wealthy Europeans seeking respite from the northern climate, was a popular destination in the late 19th century. Monet, like many European painters, was drawn to the Mediterranean for its vibrant colors. But we must ask, what does it mean for an artist from a colonial power, France, to represent this landscape? Is it an innocent appreciation, or does it participate in a broader act of cultural appropriation? The palm trees, so different from the French countryside, speak to an exotic "otherness" sought by Europeans. Monet himself said he was "captivated" by the landscape, which suggests a certain power dynamic, a gaze that transforms a lived-in place into a spectacle. As you consider the painting, reflect on how our desires shape the way we see the world, and how those visions are not always innocent.