In the late 1800s, a group of artists in Paris, France were on the verge of a creative revolution. The artists were eager to share their vision of how they saw the world, rather than how the world thought their art should look. Their artwork was considered radical due to their non-conformist approach to painting which was much different from what the art world had grown accustomed to. After having their works rejected over and over by numerous galleries and art shows in Paris, the brave and creative group grew tired of having their paintings dismissed as “unfinished” or lacking detail, and so the artistic movement known as Impressionism was born.
The Impressionists found inspiration in everyday beauty and set off to explore the towns throughout Normandy, France, by traversing along the winding banks of the Seine River and the sandy coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. Inspired by his travels, Claude Monet, one of the movement’s most well-known and prolific artists, went on to paint over 2,000 works of art in this genre, including Impression, Sunrise - the piece that gave name to the entire movement! The painting depicts Monet’s interpretation, or “impression”, of a sunrise scene at the Port of Le Havre, a coastal area where the Seine River ends and the Atlantic Ocean begins. Monet eventually settled in the town of Giverny amidst a beautifully curated garden that inspired many of his other works of art for years to come.
The Impressionists used the stunning coast of France as their muse, painting thousands of their interpretations of cathedrals, landscapes, people, city life, and more. Port Le Havre, Rouen, Giverny, Honfleur, and the amazing white chalk cliffs in Étretat all played a role in the artwork of the Impressionist movement. Normandy, considered the birthplace of Impressionism, celebrates annually with a fine arts festival throughout multiple towns in the region. Monet’s gardens at Giverny are still beautifully maintained to this day and offer a guided tour for those who want to be inspired like Monet was. If you’re longing to see firsthand where Impressionism was born, contact us today for a customized quote!
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