Cliff at Grainval near Fecamp 1881

Here we see Claude Monet’s visual experience of the Cliff at Grainval near Fecamp, captured in paint. The hazy blues and greens of the water evoke a sense of serenity, while the rugged cliff edge in the foreground provides a solid counterpoint. Monet's use of short, broken brushstrokes doesn't just depict light and color; it also destabilizes traditional landscape painting. The cliff is not presented as a grand, imposing structure, but as a series of textures and colors. This approach reflects a broader shift in thinking about representation. Instead of aiming for a perfect mirror image, Monet explores how we perceive and interpret the world around us. The horizon line is blurred, almost dissolving into the sky, which challenges our sense of depth and space. Monet invites us to consider how our senses construct our understanding of reality. What we are left with is not a simple representation, but an invitation to question and reimagine.