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Usually, culture affects the works of various artists by shaping their worldview and the associations they have with places, people, symbols, patterns, shapes, and colors. With each culture having a unique system of understanding and history, it seeks to influence artistic works by repackaging the intended art message in a way that would reflect a particular culture’s language of symbolism. Notably, culture has had significant impacts on the Impressionist’s works of art. Therefore, this paper seeks to discuss one of the Impressionist work of art influenced by culture on its creation, the Claude Monet’s Impression, Sunrise.
The painting portrays a calm, misty maritime scene with rising early morning sun. Though indistinct, boats and ships are noticeable in the foggy harbor. On the water surface, reflections on the rays of the sun and shadows of figures and boats are evident. On the painting’s right side, there are heavy machinery and cranes. Also visible are the Masts of ships and chimneys’ emission of gases into the air.
A significant cultural event that immensely affected Claude Monet’s artwork was the Franco-Prussian War. The war took place between 1870 and 1871, and it involved the second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia (Yurasits, n.d.). Ultimately, the French lost the war. To the French government, morale, and the society, the results of the war were devastating. Consequently, individuals united in an attempt to reconstruct the nation.

With a substantial engagement with the French spirit and pride revitalization, Monet’s Impression, Sunrise sought to reflect and emphasize the French determination to rebuild their nation after the war. Slowly, Le Havre port grew to become the second largest port in France (Yurasits, n.d.). The Impression, Sunrise depicts this fact through the inclusion of large ships. At the time of the painting’s creation, Le Havre port hosted the city’s most significant industries. The art reflects this fact. The haziness in the image is not only due to the morning mists but also steamships and factories’ emissions. In other words, the aftermaths of Franco-Prussian War influenced the creation of Monet’s Impression, Sunrise.
Reference
Yurasits, J. (n.d.). Analysis of Claude Monet’s Impression, Sunrise. Retrieved from http://blogs.longwood.edu/incite/2012/01/30/analysis-of-claude-monet’s-impression-sunrise/