An impressionist master

Claude Monet (1840-1926)

Pioneer of a Revolutionary Artistic Movement

Claude Monet was a leading figure in the creation of Impressionism, a groundbreaking art movement that emerged in the early 1870s. More than a stylistic school, Impressionism was united by a shared philosophy: rather than capturing the static, enduring qualities of reality, it sought to depict nature’s fleeting, ever-changing moments.

Impressionist techniques involved breaking down and juxtaposing primary colours and their complements, creating shimmering effects of light and “colour vibrations.” This method brought an emotional depth to landscapes and other scenes, reflecting their transient qualities.

By 1886, the original Impressionist group had begun to dissolve, with individual artists pursuing distinct paths. Monet, however, gained increasing recognition during this period. Art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel played a crucial role in championing his work, including efforts to promote it internationally, particularly in the United States.

Breton Escapade

Belle-île, a favoured destination

In 1886, Brittany was in vogue among Impressionist painters, offering an exotic allure while being affordable and conveniently close to Paris. This trend coincided with innovations in painting tools, like collapsible easels and paint tubes (introduced in 1885), enabling artists to work outdoors with ease. Seeking fresh structures, unexpected plays of light, and unique subjects, Monet was likely inspired by Par les champs et les grèves by Gustave Flaubert (published in 1885), a literary ode to Brittany by one of its earliest “tourists.”

Monet initially planned a brief “tour of Brittany,” cane in hand, intending to stay on Belle-Île for only a fortnight before moving on to visit his friend Octave Mirbeau in Noirmoutier. However, what was meant to be a fleeting visit turned into a longer sojourn. In the end, Monet’s journey through Brittany was distilled entirely down to Belle-Île—and, within it, to just one stretch of its wild coastline.

On 21 November, Claude Monet informs Alice that he plans to leave Belle-Île in the coming days and finally head to Noirmoutier, where the Mirbeaus are waiting for him. He would have preferred to cancel this visit:

“…to stay a little longer here […] What a pity to be forced to go to Noirmoutier!”

He departs on a boat with student pilots that travels to Saint-Nazaire every two days. He will never return to Belle-Île.

Very close to Claude Monet, Octave Mirbeau will later write to Rodin:

“I went to spend 8 days with Monet in Belle-île…He did great things: it will be a new strength of his talent. A terrible, formidable Monet.”

Terrible and formidable, like Belle-île-en-Mer.