Fishing Boats in Étretat

Étretat, a resort on the Normandy coast, was famous for steep cliffs and dramatic rock formations that attracted painters as well as vacationers. Like Gustave Courbet before him, Monet was drawn to the visual drama of the site and created over seventy views from near and distant vantage points. Here, the artist has chosen a view that omits any sign of people or tourist amenities and instead imparts a sense of the town’s origins as a fishing village.

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

painting by Claude Monet (Museum: Seattle Art Museum)