Cliffs of the Porte d'Aval 1885

Cliffs of the Porte d'Aval was painted with oil on canvas by Claude Monet, though the precise date is unknown. In this work, Monet isn't only depicting a coastal landscape, but also engaging in the labor of painting itself. The rapid brushstrokes and the layering of colors speak to the artist's direct engagement with the scene. The textures of the rocks and the movement of the water are not just represented; they are enacted through the material qualities of the paint. Monet’s technique is rooted in the tradition of plein air painting, where artists ventured outdoors to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. Yet, this was also a commercial project. Monet was producing saleable images for an art market that increasingly demanded scenes of leisure and natural beauty. The painting, therefore, exists at the intersection of artistic exploration, skilled labor, and capitalist exchange, blurring any rigid distinction between fine art and craft.