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Alison Olson Instructor: Suzanne Reynolds ART 1020 20 October 2013

Artist Report: Claude Monet People discuss my art and pretend to understand as if it were necessary to understand, when it's simply necessary to love. Claude Monet Introduction and Bibliography: Claude Monet was born November 14, 1840, in Paris, France. He began with caricature drawings and portraits that his neighbors paid him to do (Kalitina 30). In his early teens, he was introduced to landscape painter Eugene Boudin (1824 - 1898) and he too began to paint atmospheric landscapes (Potts 6). At age sixteen Monet began taking art classes from FranciosCharles Ochard, and that is when and where Monets talent and brilliant simplicity for art came about. He became more than a traditional copyist. These artists influenced Monets early career (in which he would sign all work Claude), and helped his talent grow into what it is known for today (Kalitina 30). Monets technique and style reflect a wonderful awareness of the achievements of his teachers and contemporaries while also creating a unique and constantly transforming personal vision (Potts 7). Impressionism is a term that not only describes a trend in French art, but also shows the new development of European painting. Impressionists broke through the theories of classical artists such as Leonardo da Vinci (Kalitina 7). Monet went back to Paris, to visit the Louvre,

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were artists would bring their tools and supplies to copy the famous paintings. Instead, Monet took his tools by the window and paint what was right in front of him. Claude Monet is known as the quintessential Impressionist, with his spontaneous painting technique, his attention to nature, detail, and play on light (Potts 6). Monet traveled often, and would paint the views of which he saw. In 1870, there was the Franco-Prussian war, and Claude Monet took his wife Camille and son Jean to London, along with many other artist figures. This is where Monet met Paul Durand-Ruel, who was the main art dealer for the Impressionist circle, and had a vital role in Monets career, even when DurandRuel went through financial losses. Camille had their second child, Michel, in March while suffering from tuberculosis. The Monets shared a home with Ernest Hoschede and wife Alice, and after the death of Camille and Ernest left for Belgium, Alice raised Monets children along with her own six. This allowed Monet to go on frequent painting trips all over France, the Normandy coasts, and some secluded, non-tourist sites. Monets focus shifted, and his subject matter changed. He started selecting venues of more personal satisfaction and sensation instead of urban experience. These new subjects not only widened Monets own experience and modes of expression but they also attracted keen buyers and dealer-patrons (Potts 9-12). He then had his own exhibits and galleries, after years and several cycles of poverty, he finally had a public and stable career (Kalitina 54). These previous explorations Monet had undertaken in the 1880s were known as his preliminary work for his series of paintings in the 1890s. In the series, Monet would select a particularly resonant site and subject, such as grain stacks, poplar trees on the River Epte or the face of Rouen Cathedral, and paint suites of paintings portraying the motif under various

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different conditions of light and season These 15 grain stack paintings were part of a one-man exhibition, held in Durand-Ruels gallery in 1891 (Potts 13-14). Along with this great project Monets other great project was his water garden he created in Giverny (Potts 14). Alice, Claude, and their large family rented a home and two acres from a local landowner from a commune in the north of France. Monet started creating elaborate flower gardens involving every color and variety of flowers. He gained permission to alter the flow of the pond and stream on the land to create and enlarged pond. On one side of the pond, Monet created a dramatic Japanese style bridge. Monet painted this serene spot daily for 20 years, and this was to be his final project. Monet also built a greenhouse and studio on the land where he would be able to work in comfort for his pieces and collections such as the water lily series. In fact, he planted and grew his water lilies without intending to paint them, but today are his most well known series. (Potts 14). Monet suffered from cataracts in both eyes, but still worked on projects including a series of weeping willow trees to show a homage to the fallen French soldiers in World War I, which his youngest son Michel served. The cataracts affected his visions, giving his sight and paintings a reddish tone. Although, Monet continued to paint until his death in 1926 (Potts 15). December 5 of that year, Monet passed away from lung cancer, and buried at age 86 in a church cemetery in Giverny. The occasion was simple, only fifty people had attended (Tucker 224). Famous Works: Monets first worked with caricature drawings, making extreme features on people that made them still identifiable. The work he did in 1857, such as Little Theatrical Group are the perfect examples of early Monet (Potts 18). His caricature drawings show what a quick eye he had for detail, but the ability to transform things in a new and distinguished way.

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In 1865 Monet produced Portrait of a Man which is of watercolorist Victor Jacquemont (Potts 36). The dark colors and lack of details with contrast are influenced by Manet. No effects of the sunlight are shown in the painting giving it a very flat and no variety. There is not correct name for this piece, so it is often referred to as Portrait of a Man, Claude Monets mistress, Jeans mother, and later his wife was his favorite subject to paint. Camille (Woman in the Green Dress) 1866, was one of many paintings with his favorite model (Potts 26). The lack of detail in the background of this painting is for cause of his love and attention to his wife. This painting was submitted in to a state-run exhibition where, was also chosen. Exhibitions like these would offer fame and financial rewards for up and coming artists like Monet, at this time (Potts 26). Monet rarely worked with still life, although when he did, the objects of still life were done in a similar fashion as his subjects in landscapes. Still Life with Melon 1872, was done with similar composition technique as previous paintings. Monet used round fruit to contrast the sharp angles of the table and tablecloth (Potts 61). Carrieres-St.-Denis 1872, is landscape that has very traditional Impressionist values. There are mostly horizontal elements to the picture, but the poplar trees break up the bands. Water is a common presence in Impressionist work, and many of Monets paintings. The use of blue for the water breaks up the poplar reflections, and any other reflections from appearing (Potts 58). In 1876, poverty caused Monet to return to his family home, this would not be his first cycle through poverty. He painted Terrace at Ste.-Adresse, from his view in the upstair room in the house. Because the man that is sitting down is Monets father; Monets stepson believed

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Monets love for flowers came from his parents and shown through this piece. The two flag poles give this painting vertical balance, considering the horizontal lines of the terrace, ocean, and sky. This boats on the skyline show that they were a vital trade of his family town. A unique feature to this piece is that the faces are not the focus, and are turned away (Potts 42). The painting that is responsible for the term Impressionist is: Impression, Sunrise done by Monet in 1872. Art of this nature is about capturing light on the canvas, with small strokes of color, side by side. Unlike, other paintings where colors and strokes are all blended together. Although, this is not typical of Monets work because the there is no horizon line because the water, sky and reflections all come together. His aim was not to create an accurate landscape, but to record the impressions formed while looking at that landscape (Potts 75). Until 1873 Monet, had mostly worked with city landscapes and subjects. Poppies of Argentuil showed a contrast to these works by a serene nature scene, showing more warmth than some previous works. This painting is done in an abstract style, where the landscape leaves the last impression, not the figures that are blended into the grass (Potts 75). The Turkeys 1876 is a very traditional painting of farm animals. But, Monet did not paint in the traditional way. The biggest factor of this, is the how he cropped out a birds head, which at this time was not typical and unheard of. Also, the point of view in this picture is as if you are sitting on the grass within the birds, giving it one of the most unique perspectives of its time (Potts 94). Because Monet began his career with caricatures it is a surprise that he did not do more portraits, but Portrait of Poly 1886, is one of the few. Whenever Monet worked with portraits,

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he made the backgrounds blank drawing attention to the person, inviting them into the story (Potts 18). In 1890 he began focusing on a motif of haystacks. Monet chose to paint these haystacks at different times of the day and during different seasons, which is a very traditional French symbol. He makes the haystacks the most important feature in the painting, yet still giving detail to the landscape behind the stacks. This is one of his most notable collections. Monet used the Rouen Cathedral as a subject for his series involving different times of days and seasons in 1893. He was the first artist to concentrate exclusively on architecture. This series was a struggle for Monet, and took three years to complete. He did not paint the entire building unlike other work he had done, but focused on just a part of the cathedral. The main focus of this series is how the light reflected on the building. He would repaint of the same canvases giving them a stonework texture. Some of Monets most notable pieces come from his garden in Giverny. He built an oriental inspired bridge, to a western style garden. In 1899 he painted Waterlily Pond, Harmony in the Green. Paintings such as these, became his only subject matter for the last 20-30 years of his life (Potts 213). Some of his most intimate paintings are those of his Water Lilies series. These images are suspended in one area without land or sky above, unlike many other Monet paintings. From 1914 -1917 Monet worked on a larger project for a state commission, by Prime Minister Clemenceau. While working on this series, Monets cataracts got worse. He had to rely on the names of the colors on the tubes. Monet began to use thicker strokes, losing the delicacy of his

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paintings giving them a frenzy. He stopped work on the paintings until he received operation for his condition (Potts 236 - 238). There are around 250 oil paintings in this series. Personal Feelings and Impressions: Of course, after doing research on someone, you gain a new level of respect for them. I was familiar and admired Claude Monets paintings, but I did not realize the level of thought he put into them. I had no idea just how many pieces of artwork he created. It amazes me how young he was, when developing his style of Impressionism in landscapes. He was applauded and taught by some incredible artists, but then surpassed them by his own talent. I always just thought he had done landscapes and views. Before this report I had never seen any of his portraits, which I believe are more impressive then some of his most important works such as the water lily series. At first glance some of his work looks as though it can be done with watercolor. He has such smooth transitions on the canvas. I admire his work with subject matter. I loved learning that he would travel all over to paint and as he did, he found more intimate and personal locations. I respect that he created a beautiful piece of land as inspiration for his paintings, to make his work unique and personal. Reading some of his personal quotes, I realize how modest he was, which makes him even more respectable. It seems he didnt realize his own talent at times. By far, my favorite piece of art is titled Poppies At Argentuil, done in 1873. It has what looks like mother and er in a field of poppies holding umbrellas, which was found often in his paintings. The flashes of red drew my eye to it, but its the contrasting of color I appreciate so much. Also, since I feel he has a great talent for portraits of people, I his work with both people and landscapes. It is the most appealing to me. The impressions I get from his paintings is that he enjoys the nature, which after researching him I find that he did. Also he enjoyed gardening, and

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flowers -- which he says his probably the reason he became an artist. Monet truly painted what inspired him, and became famous for what he loves most.

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Works Cited Kalitina, N. N., N. V. Brodskaia, and Claude Monet. Claude Monet. [New York]: Parkstone Press International, 2011. eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 20 Oct. 2013. Potts, Vanessa. Essential Monet. 1st ed. Fulham, London: Parragon, 2000. Print. Tucker. Claude Monet: Life and Art. Pg. 224 Slide Show can be found: http://alisonolsoneporfolio.weebly.com/index.html, this will provide all talked about works in this paper