Argenteuil 1875

Claude Monet made this painting, Argenteuil, with oil on canvas, a classic combination. But what makes it special is how he used those materials. Look closely, and you'll see it's built up from countless touches of paint. Each dab and stroke captures a fleeting moment of light and color. This wasn't about careful rendering. Instead, Monet focused on the sensory experience. The quick, broken brushwork is key. It speaks to the speed and spontaneity of modern life. Monet, like other Impressionists, embraced new, portable paints. This allowed him to work outdoors, directly in front of his subject. It was a radical shift from the controlled studio environment. The result? A fresh, immediate impression. It blurred the lines between observation and abstraction. By celebrating the act of painting itself, Monet elevated the everyday. He turned a humble scene into a vibrant meditation on light, color, and the modern world.