Bordighera

Bordighera is a vibrant oil on canvas painting created by Claude Monet (French, 1840–1926) in 1884. This work captures the intense light and exotic vegetation of the Italian Riviera, following a crucial working trip Monet undertook to the Ligurian coast early that year. The resultant series of canvases marked a transitional period for the artist, showing him moving beyond the familiar landscapes of his native France and grappling with the distinct visual challenges posed by Mediterranean climate and terrain.

Characteristic of the Impressionism movement, Monet employed rapid, visible brushwork to render the fleeting atmospheric effects and high chroma of the sun-drenched scene. The composition is defined by the sharp contrasts between the warm ochres and pinks of the rocky shoreline and the deep, cool blues and greens of the foliage and distant sea. Monet specifically focused on the vertical structure of indigenous plants, such as cypress and palm trees, utilizing their forms to anchor the composition and divide the expanse of sky and water.

The painting demonstrates Monet’s mastery in translating direct sunlight into pure color on the canvas, a lifelong dedication central to his contributions to French art. Unlike his contemporaneous studies of the Seine or Argenteuil, works like Bordighera reveal the artist expanding his technical vocabulary to handle harsher light and more defined geological features.

This significant piece contributes to the extensive study of the artist’s mature period and showcases his relentless drive for en plein air exploration. This canvas is housed within the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a seminal example of 19th-century Impressionist painting, high-quality prints of this work are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring its enduring accessibility to scholars and art enthusiasts globally.