Claude MONET
French 1840-1926
Rough weather at Etretat
1883
oil on canvas
65.0 x 81.0 cm
Felton Bequest 1913
582-2

For many years, the tall cliffs and rugged coastline of Normandy fascinated and attracted many artists and in January 1883 Monet planned a painting trip to the port city, Le Havre.

In letters to friends, he wrote of the stormy weather he experienced that winter and he was disappointed that it forced him to abandon Le Havre for Etretat. This was a popular fishing village, and an area he felt too often painted by other artists for him to create 'new' works. It is perhaps testament to Monet's genius that the Etretat paintings are certainly not hackneyed or stale, as his unique perception and vigorous style translated into a fresh interpretation of the area.

In this instance, the monumental cliffs are battered by the crashing waves which are dwarfing two figures in the foreground. They are blurred by the sea spray, and by appearing as little more than silhouettes make it easy for the viewer to identify with them and feel part of the scene.