Credit: www.wikipaintings.org
Breaking the Rules: The Beginning of Impressionism
Before Monet, traditional painting emphasized precise details, realism, and historical or religious subjects. It was expected that art look polished and perfectly composed, often created in the confines of a studio. However, Monet wasn’t particularly interested in perfect detail or rigid conventions. He, along with other artists, wanted to capture the impression of a scene – the way light and color change at a specific moment in time.
In 1872, Monet created an oil painting titled Impression, Sunrise. This painting gave name to Impressionism, the art movement that would redefine art forever. This piece was not a realistic depiction, but rather a loose, atmospheric portrayal of sunlight breaking through the mist of a port at dawn. Many critics initially mocked the painting for its seemingly unfinished appearance, but Monet and his fellow artists proudly embraced the title “Impressionist.”
Monet’s Obsession with Light and Color
Monet’s fixation on light was what truly made him stand out. Instead of painting objects exactly as they were and how they appeared, he wanted to show the ways in which atmosphere and light transformed those objects. The colors on his palette were usually bright and pure. He’d lay the colors side by side, letting the eye of the viewer blend them as opposed to blending them on the canvas itself. This technique gave his paintings a shimmering, luminous effect, seeming to be alive with movement.
Monet was particularly obsessed with the way light changed throughout the day. This fascination led him to paint the same scene repeatedly at different times of day, recording the shifts in color, light, and shadow. His series Haystacks, which was painted in the late 1890s, perfectly showcases this technique.
“Antibes in the Morning” (1888) Credit: www.wikiart.org
Capturing Movement with Loose Brushstrokes
Along with lighting, Monet’s loose, visible brushstrokes were another key characteristic of his art. Instead of smoothly blending colors together to create a refined image, he applied paint in dabs and strokes that, when viewed up close, might seem arbitrary. But when looked at from a considerable distance, the painting coalesces, forming an image that is full of life, vibrancy, and movement.
With this technique, Monet was able to capture these fleeting moments he was so enamored by. Whether it was the way in which the wind made trees sway, or they the way sunlight was reflected off of water’s surface, his brush strokes made his pieces feel alive and dynamic.
The Garden at Giverny
Monet settled in the village on Giverny in 1883. Here he created an ornate garden that would become the subject of a number of his most famous paintings. The Japanese bridge, the pond filled with water lilies, and the lush surrounding greenery all became central subjects in his work. Unfortunately, by this time, Monet’s sight was beginning to deteriorate, and, as a result, his work became more atmospheric and abstract. However, his passion for capturing the shifting of light and color was immutable.
Monet’s Painting Series: Capturing Time
On of the most visionary aspects of Monet’s work was his practice of painting the same scene repetitively under different conditions and times of day. When he painted a bridge, a haystack, and a cathedral, it wasn’t just one time – the were painted in the morning, at sunset, in the snow, and in the rain. This approach allowed him to explore how light and weather could transform the same subject, giving it new life with each version.
His Rouen Cathedral series for example, demonstrates how different times of day can completely alter the appearance of a structure. In some versions, the cathedral is bathed in warm sunlight. In others, it’s barely visible, shrouded in the mist. Each painting has its own unique mood, despite depicting the same building.
“Poplars at Giverny” (1887) Credit: www.Wikiart.org
Monet’s Legacy and Impact in Modern Art
Monet’s influence in the world of art cannot be overstated. His pioneering use of color, loose brushstroke, and focus on capturing the essence of a moment paved the way for many art movements, including Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, and Abstract Expressionism. Artists like Jackson Pollock, Vincent Van Gogh, and Henri Matisse drew inspiration from Monet’s willingness to push the boundaries of what art could be.
Today, Monet’s works are revered all over the world, housed in prestigious museums like the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His garden at Giverny remains a popular destination for art lovers and tourists, giving people an opportunity to experience the place that inspired some of the greatest and most recognizable masterpieces in art history.
The Lasting Impact of Monet
Claude Monet wasn’t just a landscape painter; he was a visionary who viewed the world through a lens of light and color. His style revolutionized painting by focusing on the fleeting and ever-changing beauty of the natural world. Through his bold use of color, expressive brushstrokes, and his dedication to capturing fleeting moments, Monet gave us a new way of seeing the world – the one that still inspires artists and art lovers alike.
No matter which painting of his you’re looking at, there’s a magic in Monet’s work that goes beyond his portrayal on the canvas. He invites you to look closer, see how light plays with color, and to feel the movement in each brushstroke. It’s because of this that his work and style will forever remain timeless.
“House of Parliament” (1904) Credit: www.wikiart.org