At Val Saint-Nicolas, near Dieppe 1897

This painting by Claude Monet, rendered with oil on canvas, presents a scene at Val Saint-Nicolas near Dieppe. The dominant visual experience is one of atmospheric perspective, with soft, blended colors creating an ethereal quality. The rock formations are composed of ochre and lavender hues that evoke a sense of geological structure and the erosive power of nature. Monet's choice of color destabilizes conventional representation, offering a new way of seeing the landscape. The brushstrokes are loose and expressive, contributing to the overall impression of movement and change. The composition leads the eye from the solid forms of the cliffs to the hazy horizon, creating a dynamic interplay between stability and transience. In this work, Monet engages with the philosophical concerns of perception and representation. His technique reflects a move away from objective depiction towards a subjective interpretation of light and atmosphere, inviting us to reconsider fixed notions of space and form.