Artist and Period

The painting was created by Claude Monet, a French painter and a founder of the Impressionist movement, during his time in Vétheuil, France.

Technique and Medium

The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a typical medium for Monet's works. It measures 65.5 cm in height and 81 cm in width.

Subject Matter

The painting depicts a sweeping view of a wheat field under a sky with cirrus clouds. The field is located in Lavacourt, just across the river from Vétheuil. The scene is characterized by the verdant field and the presence of poplar trees, which would become a recurring motif in Monet's later series paintings.

Provenance

The painting has had several owners throughout its history. It was initially owned by William H. Fuller in New York and later passed through the hands of Durand-Ruel in Paris and New York. It was acquired by Henry White Cannon in 1899 and later by his wife, Jenny Olive Cannon. The Cleveland Museum of Art received the painting as a gift in 1947. In 2012, the museum decided to deaccession the work and sold it at a Sotheby's auction in New York to fund future art acquisitions.

Exhibition and Sale

The painting was last displayed in the Cleveland Museum of Art's galleries in early 2011. It was sold at an auction on November 8, 2012, with an estimated value of $5–7 million. The proceeds from the sale were used to strengthen other areas of the museum's collection, particularly early 20th-century European painting and sculpture.

Significance

Champ de blé is one of Monet's classic Impressionist landscapes from the early 1880s, showcasing his characteristic techniques and subject matter. Despite its deaccessioning, the Cleveland Museum of Art retains several other significant works by Monet in its collection.