The Manneport, Etretat - Amont Cliff, Rough Weather 1886

This work of pastel on paper, "The Manneport, Etretat - Amont Cliff, Rough Weather," was created by Claude Monet. What immediately strikes the eye is the tumultuous interplay of elements, a symphony of grays, blues, and whites punctuated by the earth tones of the beach. The composition is roughly divided, with the imposing cliff dominating the right and the turbulent sea stretching towards a stormy sky on the left. Monet uses the pastel medium to full effect, creating a textured surface that mimics the roughness of the weather. The strokes are visible, each mark contributing to the overall sense of movement and instability. The cliff, a solid mass, is juxtaposed against the fluidity of the water, an opposition that speaks to the transient versus the permanent. This contrast explores how we perceive stability and permanence. Ultimately, the emotional weight of the artwork resides in the raw, unfiltered depiction of nature's power, rendered through Monet's mastery of composition and form. It offers no closure, but an ongoing process of perception.