As everyone knows, Oscar-Claude Monet was a founder of French Impressionist painting and the most important practitioner of the movement's philosophy of expressing one's perceptions before nature, capturing the light of the moment and reproducing its intensity and its precise color. The name of the style derives from the title of his masterpiece, "Impression, soleil levant" (Impression, sunrise) which has been celebrated as the quintessential symbol of the movement. It was completed during the late nineteenth century in 1872 and illustrates a view of the port of Le Havre in north-western France (Normandie). This essay will focus on this special painting. We will first describe its composition, then we will try to understand why it became the …show more content…
First of all, an important characteristic of Impressionist painting is the type of brushstrokes utilized. Short, thick strokes of paint are applied to the canvas to quickly capture the essence of the subject. These brushstrokes are very visible in the water in Impression, Sunrise and create a sense of rhythm which reflects the feeling produced by the movement of the sea. Another feature of Impressionist painting was the distinct application of color. Colors are placed side by side and are mixed optically by the viewer’s eye. This technique is evident in the sky and water portions of Impression, …show more content…
France ultimately lost the war, marking the end of Napoleon III’s empire, and was forced to relinquish the territory of Alsace-Lorraine to Prussia. While the war only lasted a year, the results of the war were damaging to French government, society, and morale. As France began its recovery from the war, individuals began to unite for the purpose of reconstructing the nation. Monet had a heavy engagement with the revitalization of French pride, which is visible in Impression, Sunrise. Indeed, the painting strongly emphasizes France’s determination to rebuild. The harbor which is depicted was the site of many of the city’s largest and most important industries. Many large ships and emissions produced by factories and steam ships are represented and witness the desire of recovering from the