Impression, Sunrise

from the sources

• The painting is dated 1872 and was first shown in Paris in April 1874 at the exhibition that became known as the Exhibition of the Impressionists. en.wikipedia.org

  “Impression, Sunrise (French: Impression, soleil levant) is an 1872 painting by Claude Monet first shown at what would become known as the "Exhibition of the Impressionists" in Paris in April, 1874.”

• The painting shows the port of Le Havre, Monet's hometown. en.wikipedia.org

  “Impression, Sunrise depicts the port of Le Havre, Monet's hometown.”

• Astronomer Donald Olson and colleagues in 2014 used the Sun's position, tide tables, weather records and smoke direction to date the scene to the morning of 13 November 1872 at about 7:35 a.m. en.wikipedia.org

  “In 2014, astronomer Donald Olson and colleagues used the Sun's position, tide tables (large ships could only enter Le Hare's harbor at high tide), historical weather records, and the direction of the smoke plumes depicted in the painting to determine that Monet painted the scene on the morning of 13 November 1872, at approximately 7:35 a.m.”

• The painting was stolen in 1985 by Philippe Jamin and Youssef Khimoun. en.wikipedia.org

  “It was stolen in 1985 by Philippe Jamin and Youssef Khimoun.”

• The painting was recovered and returned to the museum in 1990 and put back on display in 1991. en.wikipedia.org

  “It was recovered and returned to the museum in 1990, and put back on display in 1991.”

• Monet said the title was requested for the exhibition catalogue and that, because the picture could not pass as a view of Le Havre, he asked for 'Impression' to be put down. en.wikipedia.org

  “They wanted a title for the catalog; it couldn't really pass as a view of Le Havre, so I answered: "Put down Impression."”

• The foreground of the painting is dominated by two small rowboats and the red Sun as focal elements. en.wikipedia.org

  “Impression, Sunrise depicts the port of Le Havre at sunrise, the two small rowboats in the foreground and the red Sun being the focal elements.”

• Measured with a photometer, the Sun in the painting has the same luminance as the sky around it. en.wikipedia.org

  “Although it may seem that the Sun is the brightest spot on the canvas, it is in fact, when measured with a photometer, the same brightness (or luminance) as the sky.”