"Impression, Sunrise" By Claude Monet

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Claude Monet's "Impression, soleil levant"� (sunrise) Oil on canvas [48 x 63 cm] The impressionist era lasted from 1872-1880 and when Monet painted "Impression, sunrise"� in 1873, the period had just begun. "Impression, sunrise"� epitomizes impressionistic artwork with its defining style of light playing with objects.

Claude Monet's "Impression, Sunrise"� epitomizes impressionistic artwork with its defining style of fluttery brush strokes and a blurry portrayal of an actual image. The quick, indistinct brush strokes, and the incredible use of light, brings the sunrise to life, time and time again. The light pinks used in the upper background profess the rising sun, while the ship's sails dominate the lower background. The blur of the ships and the sharp, defined area of the sun reflect the opposing significance of each object. The smaller boat in the foreground is one of the only blackened areas in the painting, signifying its importance in the painting.

The impressionist era lasted from 1872-1880, so when Monet painted "Impression, sunrise"� in 1873, the period had just begun. A group of painters, including Monet, were criticized for using this style that had been previously labeled "unskilled"�. The title of the painting, "Impression, sunrise"� implies that the painting is only an impression of what any real sunrise could be, expressing the idea that only the real thing could be as satisfying. But by giving an impression, it reaches towards providing an implied substitute.

This 1873 painting is oil on canvas and is currently housed in the Musee Marmottan, in Paris. There are some controversies surrounding the date of the piece. Most sources say that Monet created this work in 1873, but in the bottom left-hand corner he wrote 1872. A good number of people believe that Monet created the work in 1873, but he did not date...