This usage of a noticeably bright color draws attention to the main focus of the painting, the sun. Monet incorporates a palette of mostly cool, dull colors into the painting with blues and grays, but also includes splashes of warm colors noticed in the sky and the red-orange sun. The shadows of the boats and figures and the reflection of the sun’s rays can be seen on the water’s surface. The early morning sun is depicted rising over the foggy harbour with ships and other various boats at port. Slightly below the center of the painting, a small rowboat with two indistinct figures floats in the bay. The imagery of this work of art presents a focus on the calm feeling of a misty maritime scene.

Currently, Impression, Sunrise is located in the Musée Marmottan in Paris, France. Although this oil painting was disparaged during the time of its creation, today it is viewed as an austere example of the mindset and purpose behind Impressionism. In the April issue of Le Charivari, a critic named Louis Leroy judgmentally entitled his article “Exhibition of the Impressionists,” thereby coining the term inspired by the title of Monet’s work Impression, Sunrise. When the painting was first shown to the public in the L’Exposition des Révoltés-an exhibition independent of the Salon that was organized by Monet, Bazille, Pissarro, and their friends-many critics were extremely disapproving of the rebel group’s work, especially that of Monet. The most significant aspect of the painting is its credit with giving the Impressionist Movement its name. Widely regarded as Monet’s single most famous painting, Impression, Sunrise was completed during the late nineteenth century in 1872. While Impression, Sunrise and Monet’s artistic technique fell under harsh criticism at their outset, Monet’s masterpiece gave birth to a new movement and created a revolution in the world of art. This act of expressing an individual’s perception of nature was a key characteristic and goal of Impressionist art, and is a common motif found in Monet’s paintings. Unlike other artworks of the time, the subject matter and specific painting techniques evident in Impression, Sunrise seek to transcribe the feelings initiated by a scene rather than simply rendering the details of a particular landscape. This renowned work of art which illustrates a view of the port of Le Havre in north-western France is considered to be one of Monet’s “most poetic expressions” of his engagement with France’s revitalization efforts after the Franco-Prussian War. Throughout the years, Claude Monet’s Impression, Sunrise has been celebrated as the quintessential symbol of the Impressionist Movement.

Claude monet impression sunrise quizlet