The Customs Officers’ Hut at Varengeville (1882 CE)

Claude Monet’s The Customs Officers’ Hut at Varengeville (1882) is an enchanting Impressionist painting that draws viewers into a serene coastal scene. The artwork showcases a small wooden hut with a red-tiled roof nestled on a cliffside overlooking the sea near Varengeville, Normandy. Through soft, evocative brushstrokes and a delicate palette of blues, greens, and earthy tones, Monet captures the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere, inviting exploration of nature’s subtle transformations.

Painted in 1882, The Customs Officers’ Hut at Varengeville is part of a series where Monet explored the Normandy coast, creating at least 14 versions of this motif. This work reflects his fascination with the region’s rugged cliffs and shifting light, painted “en plein air.” The hut, a structure from the Napoleonic era used to monitor the English Channel, later served local fishermen. Monet’s repeated depiction of this site highlights his dedication to capturing its changing conditions.

Monet’s commitment to painting the hut multiple times in 1882 suggests a deep engagement with the landscape. His practice of working outdoors, often under challenging weather, underscores his pursuit of nature’s ephemeral beauty. This dedication raises questions about whether the hut’s significance was more personal to Monet than historically documented. The painting exemplifies Impressionism by prioritizing the transient effects of light and atmosphere over precise detail. Monet transforms a humble hut into a profound reflection of nature’s beauty, challenging conventional art by emphasizing sensory experience. 

The painting is an oil on canvas, a medium Monet favored for its ability to capture light’s nuances. The version at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, measures 58 x 71.5 cm (22.8 x 28.1 inches). Monet’s technique features loose, suggestive brushstrokes to depict the cliffside’s greenery, the sea’s calm expanse, and the hut’s rustic form. 

This  version of The Customs Officers’ Hut at Varengeville is held by Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam.