Until the late 19th century– With their easel over the shoulder and equipped with these new and clever tubes of oil paint, the plein-air painters such as Monet, Sisley and Pissaro took the exciting railway to come and capture the tones of the sea and skies, observe the ever-changing light through the effects of clouds, and study the reflections on water. They chose the landscapes of Normandy, in particular Etretat and the Alabaster Coast ( Côte d’ Albâtre ) as the material for their pictural research. ( Read more )
Claude Monet Paris Saint-Lazare railway station – 1877
The late 19th century : Etretat , 4 hours from Paris by train
Etretat is a vital seaside destination in Normandy located on the Cote d’Albatre between Le Havre and Fécamp. It is reputed for its high cliffs where we find between cliff Aval and Amont, a large pebbled beach extending for almost one kilometer and opening to the English Channel. Etretat offers a real post card view. ( Read more )
Did you know ?
Impressionism was born in the second half of the 19th century and was a revolutionary art movement . Impressionism broke away from the formal academy style ans split from traditions as the painters came out of their studio to paint outdoors.They started to use new colours to represent transparency, and shades were no longer black but purple. Impressionism was also influenced by British artist such W.Turner who had etablished landscape painting as a fully-fledged genre. They were also contemparies of the birth of the photography.
Musée Marmottan – Paris 1872
Impression, Sunrise (French: Impression, soleil levant) is a painting by Claude Monet. Shown at what would later be known as the “Exhibition of the Impressionists” in April 1874, the painting is attributed to giving rise to the name of the Impressionist movement. Impression, Sunrise depicts the port of Le Havre, Monet’s hometown, and is his most famous painting of the harbor.
The late 19th century : Etretat , 4 hours from Paris by train
Claude Monet The Cliffs at Etretat, 1885, Clark Institute, Williamstown
“…I know that to really paint the sea it has to be seen every day at any hour and from the same spot to know its life at this very spot ; that’s why I’m repeating the same subjects up to four and even six times…”
Claude Monet Sailboats behind the needle at Etretat, 1885
Monet was obsessed with ” a limestone monument ” , the cliff of Etretat, which he painted endlessly.
Stormy Sea at Étretat by Claude Monet (1883) – Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon
The French impressionist painter Claude Monet by the photograph Nadar , 1899 ( Read more ).
Claude Monet the Manneporte 1885, Art Museum Philadelphia
“…I know that to really paint the sea it has to be seen every day at any hour and from the same spot to know its life at this very spot ; that’s why I’m repeating the same subjects up to four and even six times…”
The Manneporte near Étretat, 1886
Claude Monet (French, 1840–1926)
Etretat by various artists
Eugène Le Poitevin – 1858 -Bathing at Etretat – Normandy Museum.
Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) – The Etretat Cliffs after the Storm – 1870 – Paris, Musée d’ Orsay
End of the 19th century : the opening of the Paris – Normandy railway line – Etretat , 4 hours from Paris by train
Etretat is a vital seaside destination in Normandy located on the Cote d’Albatre between Le Havre and Fécamp. It is reputed for its high cliffs where we find between cliff Aval and Amont, a large pebbled beach extending for almost one kilometer and opening to the English Channel. Etretat offers a real post card view. ( Read more )
Claude Monet , Cliff at Etretat, Sunset – 1883
France is a hiking and cycling paradise and our goal is to share our passion for the diversity of our country…..Ici & Là Nature is a Website giving access to English speaking travelers to local hiking and cycling Companies experts of a region of France or Spain.
Discover France off the beaten paths….Discover some of the most beautiful regions of France : Provence, Atlantic Coast, Perigord, Bordeaux , the Alps , Alsace , Mount St Michel , Brittany, Cevennes and of Spain : Catalonia, the Camino de Santiago, Andalucia.( Read more : Ici & Là Nature )
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Wonderful post! The photos are incredible.
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Awesome photos!
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Loujenhaxmyor, thank you !
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What a beautiful place! No wonder Monet was inspired. In the UK there is a similar rock formation in Dorset near to Lulworth Cove, called Durdle Door. Seems like a mirror image to Etretat. Maybe the geologists know about some connection between them but either way, both gorgeous! Thanks for a lovely post! 🙂
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Thank you Maxine Dodd, I really appreciate it!
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My pleasure!
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I shared this post with a good friend, via facebook, as she loves the paintings of Claude Monet and I figured she’d enjoy the different paintings he made of the same cliff area. My figuring was correct, she thanked me for sharing your post with her. 🙂
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Jennifromrollamo, thank you !!! I really appreciate !
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impressionism began with van gogh in the south of france arles, st Remy not Normandy.
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I don’t agree with you: Can you read this link? http://www.impressionniste.net/impressionism_history.htm
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Stunning scenery and photos.
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Thank you, Raewyn’s !!!! 🙂
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Great photos of a beautiful part of the world. I love the comparisons of the old and new photos and the paintings.
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Goannasnake, thank you !
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Super post and so informative. Wonderful! Thank you!
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Jennythegirlking, It is nice to have people to share them with, so thank you!
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Love the visual connections between the real and the painted
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Tasmanian traveller, your comment inspire me to do more and better.
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exquisite white contrasts with the emeralds,jades and turquoise of ocean! such gorgeous coastline, great photographs and lovely selection of Impressionist paintings 🙂 one day, I must go see my ancestors homeland of Le Havre and also Etretat
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Debiriley, thank you !
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🙂 you’re welcome
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Beautiful!
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Heather Keet, thank you !
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Stunning pictures !!! thanks for sharing !! I definitely want to go there myself now !
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Gwenniesgarden, thank you ! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Jane Dougherty Writes and commented:
Gorgeous blog post if you like cliffs, Normandie, or the Impressionists. For you, Dad.
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Thanks for the beautiful post. I love this part of the coastline, and it was my dad’s favourite part of France.
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Jane, thank you !
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I was under your wings too 🙂 This is so beautiful post, I loved so much, Thank you, love, nia
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Niasunset, thank you !
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We usually stay overnight in the area on our way to or from Brittany, but after seeing your wonderful photos I’ll consider making it a destination in its own right. Or at least stay longer than a night. 😉
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