It seems to me, when I see nature, that I see it ready made, completely written — but then, try to do it! All this proves that one must think of noth… - Claude Monet

I have not been able to see a bit of sea or any water at all; everything is frozen and covered with snow.

I've never seen such changeable conditions and I had over 15 canvases under way, going from one to the other and back again, and it was never quite right; a few unfortunate brushstrokes and in the end I lost my nerve and in a temper I packed everything away in crates with no further desire to look out of the window, knowing full well that in this mood I'd only mess things up and all the paintings I'd done were awful, and perhaps they are, more than I suppose.

The sea is superb, but the cliffs don't match up to those at Fecamp. Here I'll be certain to do more boats.