The artwork “Rough Sea at Etretat” is by the masterful Impressionist artist Claude Monet and was created in 1883. This engaging piece is painted with oil on canvas, exemplifying the characteristics of the Impressionism movement. With dimensions measuring 100 x 81 cm, this landscape genre artwork is housed at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon in Lyon, France.
Depicting a vivid coastal scene, the artwork reveals Monet’s fascination with the interplay of light and natural forms. The canvas is alive with the dynamic movement of the waves as they crash against the Etretat cliffs. Monet has used a palette of blues, whites, and earth tones to evoke the turbulent energy of the sea under a cloudy sky. The textures and brushwork are loose and expressive, capturing the fleeting moment with artistic urgency. A sense of immediacy and atmosphere is achieved through the thick application of paint, which adds depth and complexity to the piece. Two haystacks and a few small figures next to the boats on the shore provide scale, grounding the scene and emphasizing the power of the natural elements depicted. This landscape is a testament to Monet’s innovative approach to capturing the essence of a scene through his distinct brushstrokes and color choices.
