Claude Monet, Sailboats at Argenteuil

In 1871, Monet moved with his family to Argenteuil, on the outskirts of Paris. He loved the lively atmosphere of the town, always busy with people out boating, and painted the moored boats there in numerous canvases.

Here, red and deep navy boats sit against a blue sky and green water in a striking color contrast. Monet captures light and color with short, broken brushstrokes, the technique most closely associated with Impressionism. The masts' vertical lines give the composition rhythm and stability, and, interestingly, Monet set aside traditional perspective, instead letting perspective lines radiate outward from the boats at the center of the scene.