“The Mannerport near Etretat” is a distinguished artwork by the renowned artist Claude Monet, created in 1886. This particular piece is a part of the “The Manneport” series and exemplifies the Impressionism art movement. The painting belongs to the landscape genre and is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, NY, United States.
The artwork presents an arresting depiction of the natural rock arch known as the Manneport, located near Étretat on the Normandy coast. Monet’s masterful use of color and light captures the monumental presence of the arch as well as the ethereal quality of the surrounding landscape. The foreground is characterized by dynamic, textured brushstrokes that suggest a rugged terrain leading up to the imposing cliff face. The sea stretches out beyond the rock, its surface rendered in a mosaic of blues and greens that shimmer under the changing sky. The Manneport itself is the central focus, its massive form dominating the composition while simultaneously being harmoniously integrated into the seascape. Monet’s technique allows the viewer to experience the interplay between solidity and transience, the rock’s endurance against the fleeting light and atmosphere. The sky above is a canvas of muted pastels, further enhancing the impression of a moment captured in time yet perpetually in flux.
