Mount Kolsaas 1895

Claude Monet created this oil on canvas painting, Mount Kolsaas, while living in Norway. Monet, as a man of privilege, could choose to exile himself in Norway, far from the Parisian art scene, at a time when the country was seeking to define its national identity amidst political and cultural shifts. While the painting depicts the natural beauty of Norway, it invites us to contemplate the relationship between identity, place, and representation. What does it mean for an artist to capture the essence of a landscape that is not originally his own? Here, light and shadow are used to express the sublime experience of viewing this landscape. Monet’s impressionistic style invites viewers to contemplate the emotional and sensory aspects of our relationship with nature. Monet's vision encourages us to contemplate how identity is constructed, negotiated, and expressed through art and culture.