Sandvika, Norway
1895
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
73.4 × 92.5 cm (28 7/8 × 36 3/8 in.); Framed: 98.8 × 118.2 × 11.2 cm (38 7/8 × 46 1/2 × 4 3/8 in.)
Classification
oil on canvas
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
86998
Art Historical Context
Claude Monet's *Sandvika, Norway* (1895) captures a serene Nordic coastal scene during the artist's rare venture beyond France. That year, Monet traveled to Norway at the invitation of his dealer Paul Durand-Ruel, drawn to the dramatic northern light and snowy landscapes. This oil on canvas, measuring 73.4 × 92.5 cm, depicts the tranquil bay of Sandvika with its icy waters, distant fjords, and subtle play of winter sunlight—hallmarks of his fascination with atmospheric effects. As a cornerstone of Impressionism, Monet employed loose, dappled brushstrokes and vibrant color contrasts to evoke t...
About the Artist
Claude Monet · 1840–1926
Claude Monet, born Oscar-Claude Monet on November 14, 1840, in Paris and raised in Le Havre, Normandy, began his artistic journey as a successful teenage caricaturist. His formal training started at the Le Havre secondary school of the arts in 1851, where he received his first drawing lessons from Jacques-François Ochard. Around 1858, he met Eugène Boudin, who became his pivotal mentor, introducin...