The Very First Painting of Impressionism

‘Impression, Sunrise’ by Monet (1872)

Impression, Sunrise (1872) by Claude Monet. Oil on canvas. 63 × 48 cm. Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, France. Image source Wikimedia Commons

When, in 1874, Claude Monet first exhibited his painting Impression, Sunrise, the initial response was hostile. Critics thought the work was technically limited, more like a childish daubing than a mature oil painting.

The most notorious review of the exhibition was written by a journalist (and artist)…