The artwork “Etretat the Aval Door Fishing Boats Leaving the Harbour” is a creation of the French Impressionist painter Claude Monet, dated from the year 1885. This piece is an exemplification of the Impressionist movement, capturing a landscape theme. Currently, it is housed at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon in Dijon, France. Monet’s expressive technique and his use of color to capture the transient effects of light are emblematic of Impressionist principles, and these are reflected in the painterly rendering of this coastal scene.
The artwork depicts a seascape with boats departing from the harbor at Étretat, a commune on the Normandy coast known for its dramatic cliffs and rock formations. In the foreground, an array of fishing boats with vividly colored sails can be seen dotting the turquoise water, suggesting movement with their slightly blurred reflections. The horizon is occupied by the silhouette of the natural arch known as the Aval Door, a distinctive geological feature that has been etched out of the white chalk cliffs by the sea. The sky is portrayed with muted, harmonious tones, instilling a sense of calmness that contrasts with the dynamism of the boats. Monet’s use of loose brushstrokes and his focus on the interplay between light and the natural environment are evident, resulting in a sense of immediacy as though the viewer is witnessing the scene in person. The entire composition embodies the transient quality of light and the essence of a fleeting moment, central themes in the works of Impressionism.
