Morning on the Seine 1897

Here, we see Claude Monet's interpretation of the Seine, rendered with oil on canvas. The river, an archetypal image, holds profound significance. Water, in many cultures, symbolizes the source of life, purification, and the subconscious. Think of baptismal rites across religions, linking water to renewal. The ancient Greeks saw rivers as gods, each with its own spirit and power. Monet captures this inherent vitality, this life force. The river’s surface, shimmering with light, mirrors the sky, blurring the boundary between the earthly and the ethereal. Consider how Leonardo da Vinci, centuries earlier, studied the flow of water with scientific precision, yet also imbued it with mystery in his drawings. Water remains an enduring symbol, a constant presence throughout art history, resurfacing in various forms, each reflecting the anxieties, hopes, and dreams of its time.