Claude Monet painted ‘Impression, Sunrise’ (Impression, Soleil levant) oil on canvas, (18.9 inches × 24.8 inches) in 1872.

It was exhibited in April 1874 and the painting is considered by many as having given rise to the Impressionist movement. The canvas depicts the port of Le Havre which is the hometown of the artist and is considered as his most famous painting of the harbour.

The artist visited the city and painted a series of works that depict its port. In ‘Impression, Sunrise’ he portrays the port at sunrise, with two small rowboats in the forefront and the red sun is the focal elements, while in the background on the left side are clipper ships with tall masts. The hazy scene strayed from traditional landscape painting and standard, idealised beauty. The painting is exhibited at Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris. — M.I.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, April 19th, 2015

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