CLAUDE MONET IMPRESSION SUNRISE. 1873 SERIES

En Plein Air: Despite later criticism, most of Monet's early work was painted in true Impressionist style. It is this expanse of water that inspired Monet to paint Impression: Sunrise.

Le Havre itself is a city situated in the north west of France near the mouth of the river seine. Le Havre: The port of Le Havre was the location that inspired Monet to paint the work that would become synonymous with the Impressionist movement.

Despite selling for 800 francs initially, the work has subsequently become a national piece that is beyond price. Despite its hostile contemporary reception, the painting sold instantly and was later gifted to the Musée Marmottan where it currently resides.

CLAUDE MONET IMPRESSION SUNRISE. 1873 SERIES

Critic Louis Leroy was particularly scathing and wrote a series of amusing articles that continued to poke fun at the movement long after the actual exhibition. Many of the gathered crowds at the time of its exhibition were curious parties who came only to deride the future Impressionist's efforts. The piece garnered a great deal of scathing criticism from the public who believed it to be an unfinished piece of work. The reason for Monet's title stemmed from the fact that the painting was a 'pochade' or sketch and this was what Monet called much of his work. It was then that Monet decided to name the piece 'Impression'. The original title of the piece was 'Marina' but Monet was requested by colleague Edmond Renoir to give a clearer title that wouldn't require so much interpretation. Monet confirmed such a belief when he noted about that the painting: 'really could not pass as a view of Le Havre'. Monet's Impression: Sunrise typified this and the notion behind the name was that the painting was concerned with giving an 'impression' of the landscape of Le Havre and not an accurate description of it. Photography heralded a closer look at the science behind color and light and it was to become of great importance to this group of artists. Their ideals on art centered on a desire to portray the world with a new style that favored visceral immediacy, inspired in part by changes in technological advances in photography. Due to constant rejection at the hands of the Paris Salon, the group of artists sought to create their own independent exhibition. Impression: Sunrise was completed at a time when art circles were still dismissing Claude Monet and the other Impressionists, namely Cézanne, Guillaumin, Berthe Morisot, Pissarro, Renoir, Degas and Sisley. It is believed the Monet no doubt completed Impression: Sunrise in one sitting. Impression: Sunrise fitted perfectly with Monet's burgeoning style, which favored painting outside and completing a first impression of a scene in one sitting. It sparked an art movement whose legacy would continue on for decades to come. Impression: Sunrise shares its name with the movement that Monet was the leader of and it makes it one of his most important early works. The scene is a natural look at the docks in the town and is a concentration on the effects of the sun on the sea.

Houses of Parliament: Sun Breaking through the FogĬlaude Monet painted Impression: Sunrise in 1872 in Le Havre, France.

Houses of Parliament: Effect of Sunlight in the Fog.

Claude Monet Impression Sunrise. 1873