Rocks at Belle-ile, Port-domois by Monet, 1886

In the autumn 1886 Claude Monet sought out rugged and barren terrain on the island of Belle-Île-en-Mer off the coast of Brittany. Centering his activity in the village of Kervilahouen on the Atlantic side of the island, he wrote to fellow Impressionist Gustave Caillebotte, “I’ve been here a month, and I’m grinding away; I’m in a magnificent region of wilderness, a tremendous heap of rocks and sea unbelievable for its colors; well, I’m very enthusiastic.” Still, Monet confessed to having trouble painting the wild ocean because he was used to painting the calmer channel waters. In "Rocks at Belle-Île, Port-Domois, "Monet depicted the grim sea beating away at the barren rocks, a theme he repeated and varied numerous times.