Ice breaking up on the Seine near Bennecourt 1893

Claude Monet painted 'Ice breaking up on the Seine near Bennecourt' with oil on canvas, a common material of painting. But consider what this choice meant in the late 19th century. Monet made his art in a rapidly industrializing world, where even a humble material like paint was mass-produced. The readymade paint in tubes allowed him to capture fleeting atmospheric conditions en plein air, marking a shift in how painting was produced and consumed. His application of paint – quick, broken brushstrokes – mirrors the fragmented, ephemeral nature of modern life. The visible brushwork and textured surface make you aware of the artist's hand and the labor involved. 'Ice breaking up on the Seine near Bennecourt' is not just a depiction of nature; it is a record of a specific moment, made possible by the tools and materials of its time. Recognizing this connection between materials, making, and context allows us to appreciate the painting beyond its aesthetic qualities.