The Gorge of Varengeville, late afternoon
- Original dimensions
- 92.7 x 65.7 cm
- Museum
- Harvard Art Museums
- Year
- 1897
Scene depicted
This iconic painting reveals a serene fullness, where light plays with the shapes of the cliffs and the sea, creating a landscape imbued with calm echoes. The horizon unfolds under nuanced skies, while the waves draw golden reflections on the calm surface of the water, rendering this moment suspended in time. Each brushstroke tells a story, that of a living and vibrant nature.
Historical context
Year: 1897 |BRK| Museum: Harvard Art Museums |BRK| Dimensions: 92.7 x 65.7 cm
Place in the artist's career
The Gorge of Varengeville, late afternoon stands at the crossroads of several phases of Monet: he then acquires a sensational mastery of color and light. At this time, he also creates other paintings such as Impression, Sunrise and Water Lilies , where one observes a constant evolution of his style, from realism to impressive abstraction while maintaining a sensitive approach to nature.
Anecdote
“Nature is a work of art, and I only paint it in all humility.” It is with this philosophy that Monet captured, on a gentle afternoon, the golden hues of the sun filtering through the clouds. The proximity of the sea and cliffs inspired him to immortalize this fleeting vision, a feeling that permeates the canvas and powerfully strikes the heart of anyone who surrenders to it.