Claude Monet's Masterpieces: 1879-1886

Georges Lecomte, a noted critic, once hailed Claude Monet as "nature's epic poet...radiant with passion, generosity, and tranquility, capturing the essence of nature's delight." This profound connection to nature is vividly reflected in Monet's creations between 1879 and 1886.

Early in his career, Monet focused on capturing the essence of familiar natural landscapes. He revisited his childhood hometown, Le Havre, and painted the sea from the very spots that inspired his initial works. However, by the 1880s, Monet sought fresh inspiration and challenges, embarking on journeys to new locations. He spent months walking through these regions, dedicating himself to solitary artistic endeavors.

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Monet painted tirelessly, often enduring harsh weather conditions to push both his physical limits and his observational skills. Between 1882 and 1886, he embarked on yearly winter trips to the Normandy Channel coast, visiting villages like Etretat, Dieppe, and Pourville. He chose locations along the rugged cliffs, positioning his easel to capture sweeping views of the sea from elevated vantage points.

In 1883, Monet accompanied his friend Pierre Auguste Renoir to Bordighera, a picturesque Riviera resort. There, he encountered a stark contrast to the cold northern light—a vibrant Mediterranean palette that presented a unique artistic challenge. For three months, Monet worked tirelessly from sunrise to sunset, simultaneously painting on four canvases to encapsulate the vivid hues surrounding him.

In 1886, Monet ventured to Brittany's coast, captivated by its rugged landscape and dramatic rock formations rising from the sea. Seeking to challenge himself, he experimented with darker tones, deviating from his usual lighter palette. Despite the relentless winds and rain, he braved the elements to capture the rich, wet textures of the rocks.

Monet's boldness and perseverance earned him widespread admiration, elevating his status beyond that of a mere Impressionist.

To delve deeper into Monet's journey as "nature's epic poet," explore these iconic Claude Monet paintings from 1879 to 1886:

Claude Monet's Impressionist journey into nature begins with a snowy, serene landscape. Discover more about Monet's Church at Vétheuil in the following section.

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Church at Vetheuil with Snow by Claude Monet

Painted by Claude Monet in 1879, The Church at Vétheuil with Snow captures the essence of his new surroundings after relocating to Vétheuil in the autumn of 1878. This locale inspired six of the works he presented at the fourth Impressionist exhibition the following spring.

Monet revisited his fascination with snow-covered landscapes, employing fragmented brushstrokes to depict the shimmer of faint winter light on icy surfaces. Subtle touches of red on the tower gate and riverbank add vibrancy to the otherwise subdued color scheme.

The harsh winter season remained a source of inspiration for Claude Monet. Explore his subsequent work, The Break-up of the Ice, in the following section.

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The Break-up of the Ice by Claude Monet

The Break-up of the Ice was painted by Claude Monet in 1880. The winter of 1879 was exceptionally severe, making outdoor work almost intolerable. A sudden temperature increase in early December caused the ice to fracture dramatically.

Alice Hoschedé, who lived with her children in Monet's home, recounted the thaw as a frightening event, with melting snow cascading from the hills into the village. Monet found inspiration in this spectacle, creating multiple paintings of the river's breaking ice floes.

Claude Monet also vividly portrayed the vibrant summer season. Discover his work The Artist's Garden at Vétheuil in the next section.

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The Artist's Garden at Vetheuil by Claude Monet

Painted by Claude Monet in 1880, The Artist's Garden at Vétheuil reflects a period when Monet, after the death of his wife Camille, lived with Alice Hoschedé, raising their combined families together.

Monet nurtured a garden in Vétheuil and captured their youngest children on a pathway lined with towering sunflowers. The vibrant complementary colors, accentuated by his swift, dabbing brushstrokes, evoke a dynamic energy, as though the flowers sway in a gentle summer wind.

Monet also embraced a more conventional style in floral art with several still life compositions. Explore his piece titled Bouquet of Sunflowers in the following section.

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Bouquet of Sunflowers by Claude Monet

Painted by Claude Monet in 1881, The Bouquet of Sunflowers was one of six floral still lifes Monet presented at the seventh Impressionist exhibition.

Throughout his career, Monet occasionally painted floral arrangements. During a period of financial difficulty, his garden provided a cost-effective alternative to traveling for inspiration. Critics lauded these works, expressing admiration for Monet's skill in tackling such a conventional theme.

However, Claude Monet would soon return to capturing the sea's beauty. Discover his work Cliff Walk at Pourville in the following section.

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Cliff Walk at Pourville by Claude Monet

Painted by Claude Monet in 1882, Cliff Walk at Pourville captures the cliff's rise, a subject Monet revisited during his summer stay. The painting features Alice Hoschedé and her daughter gazing out at the sea.

The pale tones of the cliff's foliage suggest the height of summer. White cumulus clouds drift across a blue sky above the sunlit green waters. The vibrant salmon pink of Alice's parasol creates a striking and harmonious contrast.

Claude Monet captured the towering cliffs of this seaside town from various perspectives. Explore his work Low Tide at Pourville near Dieppe in the following section.

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Low Tide at Pourville near Dieppe by Claude Monet

Painted by Claude Monet in 1882, Low Tide at Pourville near Dieppe reflects his early-year visit to the coastal town of Pourville, where he captured the towering cliffs along the sea. Later that year, he returned with his family to continue his work.

Throughout the 1880s, Monet embarked on numerous trips to find inspiration for his art. He would select a location, set up a temporary home, and spend time observing the site from various angles and at different times of day to capture the ever-changing effects of nature.

Claude Monet extended his stay in Pourville into the winter months, continuing to explore its landscapes. Discover his cool-toned piece, Cabin of the Customs Watch, in the next section.

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Cabin of the Customs Watch by Claude Monet

Painted by Claude Monet in 1882, Cabin of the Customs Watch reflects his initial visit to Pourville that year, as indicated by the sparse vegetation in the scene.

Monet adopts a high vantage point, looking down on the small structure, often identified as a fishing hut in his other works. He captures the rolling hills above the sea, with a cool palette of silvery pink and lilac wildflowers and icy, frothy waves, evoking the late winter atmosphere.

Claude Monet continued his artistic journey along the Normandy coast. Discover his work The Cliff at Dieppe in the following section.

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The Cliff at Dieppe by Claude Monet

Painted by Claude Monet in 1882, The Cliff at Dieppe reflects Monet's frequent summer trips north along the Normandy coast from Pourville to Dieppe.

The towering white chalk cliff, topped by an ancient stone house with a red-tiled roof, captivated Monet due to its stark contrast with the calm shoreline below. He rendered the beach in soft hues of pink, blue, and celadon green, using minimal strokes of black or gray to outline the bathers.

Claude Monet remained fascinated by nature's dramatic cliffs. Explore his striking work Coucher de soleil à Etretat in the following section.

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Coucher de soleil a Etretat by Claude Monet

Painted by Claude Monet in 1883, Coucher de soleil à Etretat was inspired by his visit to Etretat on the Channel Coast after a brief stop in his hometown, Le Havre. The rugged cliff's silhouette sparked new creative energy.

Monet captured the cliff at various times of day, using its dark form as a dramatic contrast to the shifting light behind it. At sunset, the cliff was cloaked in purple shadows, while the sky and water glowed with hues of pink, aqua, green, and pale gold.

The Channel Coast remained a focal point for Monet in 1883. Discover another perspective of this landscape in his work The Manneporte (Etretat) in the next section.

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The Manneporte (Etretat) by Claude Monet

Painted by Claude Monet in 1883, The Manneporte (Etretat) captures the massive natural arch extending into the sea at Etretat. This iconic formation became a focal point during Monet's stay on the Channel Coast in early 1883.

For this composition, Monet set up his easel facing west to capture the soft glow of the setting sun. The cool color palette and bold brushstrokes depicting the turbulent waves highlight the challenges of plein air painting during winter.

The following year, Claude Monet ventured to the Italian resort town of Bordighera. Explore his vibrant palette in Villas in Bordighera, Italy in the next section.

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Villas in Bordighera, Italy by Claude Monet

Painted by Claude Monet in 1884, Villas in Bordighera, Italy reflects his three-month stay in the Mediterranean resort town of Bordighera.

In letters to his friend Alice Hoschedé, Monet shared his awe at the vibrant hues of the sea and sky, admitting he struggled to capture their brilliance. He also found the palm trees challenging, but his time there was fruitful, and the environment infused his palette with warmth.

In 1885, Claude Monet returned to the Channel Coast, where he encountered overcast weather. Discover the expansive view from his hotel room in The Departure of the Boats, Etretat in the following section.

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The Departure of the Boats, Etretat by Claude Monet

Painted by Claude Monet in 1885, The Departure of the Boats, Etretat was created during his stay at the Hôtel Blanquet in Etretat. His upper-floor room offered a coastal view, allowing him to work indoors during inclement weather.

In late November, Monet captured the fishing fleet's departure from his window. The elevated vantage point enabled him to use shacks and abandoned boats in the foreground to guide the viewer's eye toward the sea.

Claude Monet continued to favor high vantage points in Etretat. Explore a more serene coastal scene in Etretat, gate of Aval: Fishing boats leaving the harbor in the next section.

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Etretat, gate of Aval: Fishing boats leaving the harbor by Claude Monet

Painted by Claude Monet in 1885, Etretat, gate of Aval: Fishing boats leaving the harbor captures the Falaise d'Amont from a high vantage point, softening its imposing presence.

Monet further softened the scene with a subdued palette of violet-gray tones. The aqua waters meet the pink-tinged sands before flowing outward, blending with the misty horizon. The boats leave deep red and brown shadows on the water, marking their departure from the shore.

The following year, Claude Monet revisited his signature theme of cliffs and rock formations. Explore his dramatic work Rocks at Belle-Isle, Port-Domois in the next section.

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Rocks at Belle-Isle, Port-Domois by Claude Monet

Painted by Claude Monet in 1886, Rocks at Belle-Isle, Port-Domois captures the rocky coastline from above, with the cliffs and rock formations depicted as imposing structures towering over the turbulent sea.

Monet employed color and brushwork to emphasize this contrast. The cliffs are rendered with dense, shadowed strokes, while the water is depicted with short, broken strokes of lighter blues and whites, conveying its constant movement.

Claude Monet continued his work in Belle-Isle, enduring harsh winds and rain. Discover the somber tones of his painting Storm, Belle-Isle coast in the final section.

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Storm, Belle-Isle coast by Claude Monet

Painted by Claude Monet in 1886, Storm, Belle-Isle coast reflects Monet's frustration with the harsh weather that disrupted his work. In letters to Alice Hoschedé, he described waiting for the gales to subside so he could set up his easel.

Despite the challenges, Monet's resilience shone through. He adapted his typically light palette to capture the stormy, overcast skies and the heavy, leaden atmosphere.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Debra N. Mancoff is an art historian, lecturer, and author of several books on 19th-century European and American painting, including Publication International, Ltd.'s Impressionism and Van Gogh. Her other works include Sunflowers, Monet's Garden in Art, Van Gogh: Fields and Flowers, and Mary Cassatt: Reflections of Women's Lives. She serves as a scholar in residence at the Newberry Library.