Bordighera, Italy

Claude Monet painted the Italian coastal scene during his 1884 journey to the Mediterranean. The brilliant southern light and lush vegetation offered new challenges for his Impressionist technique. Blue sea contrasts with green palms and warm buildings.

Monet wrote that Bordighera's colors were too beautiful to paint. He rose to the challenge, creating sun-drenched canvases. This work is displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago.