First Light

In Impression, Sunrise (1872), Claude Monet captures the port of Le Havre at dawn, enveloped in mist and soft light. A glowing orange sun pierces the haze, casting reflections across the water, while silhouetted boats drift quietly. Monet’s loose brushwork and emphasis on transient light over detail marked a radical departure from traditional painting, giving rise to the Impressionist movement. This seminal work, which lent its name to the movement, invites viewers into a moment of serene contemplation, where atmosphere and emotion take precedence over form