Rouen Cathedral, The Portal at Midday (1893) by Claude Monet

Rouen Cathedral, The Portal at Midday - Claude Monet - 1893

Artwork Information

TitleRouen Cathedral, The Portal at Midday
ArtistClaude Monet
Date1893
Art MovementImpressionism
Current LocationClark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA, US

About Rouen Cathedral, The Portal at Midday

The artwork “Rouen Cathedral, The Portal at Midday” was created by artist Claude Monet in the year 1893. This piece is part of the Impressionism movement and belongs to the cityscape genre. It is one of the paintings from Monet’s renowned “Rouen Cathedral” series and is currently housed at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States.

The artwork presents a complex interplay of color and light, which is characteristic of Monet’s impressionist style. The cathedral’s facade is captured under the bright, midday sun, with light and shadow dancing across the intricate Gothic architecture. Monet employs a range of hues, predominantly in tones of blue, orange, and gold, to create a vibrant depiction of the cathedral’s portal. The brushwork is loose and expressive, allowing colors to blend and suggesting the transient effects of light rather than delineating precise architectural details. This aesthetic technique enhances the ephemeral quality of the moment being portrayed. The play of light is particularly evident in the contrasts between the sunlit areas and the shaded recesses, demonstrating Monet’s mastery in capturing the fleeting conditions of natural light on the structure’s surface.

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