Monet at Night

It’s 1864, and Claude Monet is sitting in the moonlit harbor of Le Havre, Normandy – utilizing white to emulate moonlight and creating a piece that would be so different than the stark contrast of daylight, outside nature, and more notable impressionist color schemes he would be known for years later.

When I was standing in the National Gallery in Edinburgh, I didn’t expect to see this, and I was quite taken by surprise – the typical paintings that draw my heart from Monet typically land in later years. And yet, there was something about the moonlight, the waves, and the ships. Such aliveness in the moonlight. I had to just stand and take it in for some time before even listening to the museum commentary.

I learned that Monet used to go as a young boy and teen to the harbor to sit and sketch. When I was taking this in both visually and somatically, I felt the beauty of the night alongside the mischievous adventure of a young boy watching ships come and go. Perhaps he came back to paint this harbor because of the history and experiential memories it held for him. Grateful that he chose to express in this way.

And so, “monet at night” – a feeling impression of my experience taking in this beautiful and unsuspecting painting in Scotland. Feeling the movement of waves, moonlit expressionism, and just a hint of mystery beneath the surface.