
by Claude Monet, 1894
Working in oil on canvas, Claude Monet painted this view of Rouen Cathedral's west façade in 1894. The ancient Gothic stonework appears to dissolve in golden afternoon light, its architectural details suggested rather than defined. This is one of over 30 paintings Monet made of the cathedral between 1892 and 1894.
Working from a rented room across the square, Monet painted the same view repeatedly under different lighting conditions. The series demonstrates his conviction that color and light, not permanent form, constitute our visual experience. The thick impasto surface mimics the textured stone while capturing the shimmering effects of sunlight. The Rouen Cathedral series represents a peak of Monet's Impressionist exploration.
Other masterpieces from the Impressionism movement

Edgar Degas, 1867
Musée d'Orsay, Paris

Edgar Degas, 1890
Musée d'Orsay, Paris

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1881
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Edgar Degas, 1878
Musée d'Orsay, Paris

James McNeill Whistler, 1871
Musée d'Orsay, Paris

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1881
The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1881
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

Édouard Manet, 1862
National Gallery, London
Luxury wall art with the same mood and energy. Gallery-quality canvas, no museum crowds.
Browse Collection