The Road to Giverny 1885

Claude Monet likely painted this landscape on location, using oils, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Monet was a key figure in the Impressionist movement in France. He and his contemporaries were concerned with painting modern life, but also landscapes like this one. As the French countryside became more accessible to Parisians by train, artists followed. They sought to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere outdoors, which was made possible by new innovations in paint chemistry that allowed for tube paints. But the Impressionists weren't just painting pretty pictures; they were challenging the academic art establishment, who believed that only historical or mythological subjects were worthy of serious art. By focusing on everyday scenes, they helped democratize art and paved the way for future generations of artists to break free from tradition. You can consult exhibition reviews from the period, as well as the letters between artists and dealers, to better understand the Impressionist project.