Monet: Living in Shades of Blues, Violets, and Truths

Claude Monet, known to many as one of the most famous abstract painters whose art is exhibited around the world. His work came from the experience he gained during the 1800s in france with other painters. Monet transpired the post- impressionist period due to his ability to conserve techniques and start new ones. One of his famous paintings called Water Lilies, made in the impressionist and post impressionist period in ca. 1860-1910, paved the art world in post-impressionism (Fig.1). Standing at 6′ 6 3/4″ x 41′ 10 3/8″ (200x1278cm), the medium used is oil on canvas.

Earlier in life, Monet was in a pivotal place where change was happening to art in the 1800s. As stated by Snider “A small group of artist banded together and, in the period of a few short decades, completely overthrew the tenets of traditional paintings” (Snider 89). Also as stated by Snider “French impressionism was viewed as a sweeping revolution in painting” (Snider 89).  Impressionism was important for Claude Monet because during the 1800s, “paintings were limited to biblical, historical, or mythological subjects” (Snider 90). Impressionist art consisted of the painters view of the world through their eyes and recreating that. As stated by snider “The impressionist… were fascinated with modern life themes, and they often focused on the contemporary” (Snider 90). The impressionist believed that objects in paintings were seen not just because of our eyes but the way we perceive it (Snider 90). As stated by Snider on what Claude Monet said, “for me, a landscape does not exist in its own right, since its appearance changes at every moment… the surrounding atmosphere gives objects their real value” (Snider 91). Impressionism played a role in monet’s paintings, but later in life this led him to develop new techniques due to new influences.

Claude Monet was obsessed with how light contrasts a way an object is appeared in art. This started the post-impressionist movement, as stated by Eisendrath “After 1890, Monet began a more intensive study of light on landscape and objects… a ‘series’ of paintings of the same subject came to Monet from his familiarity with love for japanese prints” (Eisendrath 15). Due to the fact that monet was “in a stubborn race with light” (Eisendrath 17), he initialized a process of light study called instantaneity. In order to play with light in paintings, Monet would use complimentary colors like yellow and purple, in order to stimulate the effects of “sunlight” (Eisendrath 19). Also stated by Eisendrath “ these complimentary colors were found most effectively in an uncombined ‘divided’ state with their constituent tones left on the canvas for they eye to integrate… objects are visible not only in their local or immediate color, but also with reflections from adjacent objects” (Eisendrath 17).   An infamous painting, titled Water Lilies, embodies the true meaning of post impressionism based on the techniques used. The painting according to Eisendrath, “combine a globalur, enclosing space with flatness and bold brushwork. In content, they stop just short of symbolism, expressionism, or pure abstraction” (Eisendrath 17).

The painting Water Lilies, presents the concept of light and water. Monet used japanese art influences in this piece due to the fact that its flat, and asymmetrical. This piece is dynamic because of the continuous usage of lines and gradations of colors. There are shadow strokes, and touches of color.  The colors are crisp and bright in order to paint for the light. Because there is no real horizon from water to sky, it holds continuous reflection from sky to water. The lily pads almost start to get lost, allusions to various clouds in the sky. The usage of different tones of blues and violets give a cold pallete to the painting, intentionally giving the tone of the painting to be a vaporous water field. As stated by cowart, “The Lily Pond was one specimen where he (Monet) could experiment with radical compositions in scale, ambition, saturation of light, the marking of fugitive effects, and his impressions of them. Monet tried to render in nature not only what one sees, but how one sees” (Cowart 32). I believe that the Water Lilies personified the existence of the world, water and earth. The world seems like it’s always clashing, yet there seems to be a balance of contrast subjects.

Monet’s work was deemed as the paving way for many artist to come, such as those in the divisionist movement and avant garde groups in the post impressionist period. As stated by Cowart, “Water Lilies… impinges technically and visually on the art that in the 1940s and 1950s has been termed avant garde” (Cowart 18). He changed the art game with his contributions of technique and versatility. He truly mastered his techniques that are still thriving in modern day society. His changes in styles implements his amount of work, making him more focused on realities. Though in the beginning Monet’s life was in the struggle, he conquered that because of his vision he had for art.

 

Work Cited Page

Cowart, Jack. “IMPRESSIONIST AND POST-IMPRESSIONIST PAINTINGS.” Bulletin (St.

Louis Art  Museum), vol. 16, no. 2, 1982, pp. 1–35. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40716044.

Eisendrath, William N. “WATER LILIES BY CLAUDE MONET.” Bulletin of the City Art

Museum of St. Louis, vol. 42, no. 2, 1957, pp. 14–19. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40714857.

Snider, Lindsay. “A Lasting Impression: French Painters Revolutionize the Art World.” The

History Teacher, vol. 35, no. 1, 2001, pp. 89–101. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3054513.