The artwork “Portrait of Poly, fisherman at Kervillaouen” was created by the renowned artist Claude Monet in 1886. This portrait belongs to the Impressionism movement, a style characterized by a focus on light and its changing qualities, ordinary subject matter, and distinctive brushwork. As a genre, this artwork is a portrait, meaning it depicts the image of a particular person.
In this painting, Monet captures the likeness of a fisherman named Poly from Kervillaouen. We see an up-close view of the subject, with the painting dominated by his figure. Poly is shown wearing a dark, wide-brimmed hat and a thick, textured sweater with varying shades of blue that suggest the play of light across the fabric. His beard and hair are rendered in brown and gray tones, suggesting age and a life spent outdoors. The background is muted and non-descriptive, done in light, neutral colors to ensure that the focus remains on the subject. Monet’s signature and the date of the painting are visible in the upper right corner of the canvas, which further authenticates the artwork. Monet’s brushstrokes are distinct and visible, capturing the essence of Impressionism with an emphasis on the perception of the moment rather than the detailed realism of the subject.
