MONET and MONET and IMPRESSIONISMIMPRESSIONISM

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ANTOINETTE ANTOINETTE

IMPRESSIONISMIMPRESSIONISM

• The term was first used in a The term was first used in a derogatory manner by the derogatory manner by the art critic Louis Leroy in art critic Louis Leroy in regards to Monet’s regards to Monet’s paintingpainting,Impression, soleil ,Impression, soleil levant.levant. He considered the He considered the painting unfinished, a mere painting unfinished, a mere sketch. sketch.

• The aim of impressionism The aim of impressionism was to “suggest rather than was to “suggest rather than to depict; to mirror not the to depict; to mirror not the object but the emotional object but the emotional reaction to the object; to reaction to the object; to interpret a fugitive interpret a fugitive impression rather than to impression rather than to seize upon and fix the seize upon and fix the permanent reality.” permanent reality.”

• It was a style of It was a style of painting…”characterized by painting…”characterized by small brush strokes aimed at small brush strokes aimed at reproducing reflected light…reproducing reflected light…and the artist’s visual and the artist’s visual “impression” of an immediate “impression” of an immediate scene”.scene”.

• Four art students, Auguste Four art students, Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet, Alfred Renoir, Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley and Frederic Bazille, Sisley and Frederic Bazille, along with Edouard Manet and along with Edouard Manet and Camille Pissarro, began the Camille Pissarro, began the rebellion that resulted in the rebellion that resulted in the Impressionist Movement.Impressionist Movement.

MONETMONET

• Claude Oscar Monet was born Claude Oscar Monet was born November 14, 1840 in Paris, November 14, 1840 in Paris, France. The family moved to France. The family moved to Le Havre, in Normandy in 1845. Le Havre, in Normandy in 1845. When he was around the age When he was around the age of fifteen he received his first of fifteen he received his first instruction in painting with oils instruction in painting with oils from Eugéne Boudin. Until from Eugéne Boudin. Until Boudin taught him to paint with Boudin taught him to paint with oils oils en plein air, en plein air, Monet had Monet had drawn only caricatures of the drawn only caricatures of the people of Le Havre. people of Le Havre.

• In 1862 he met Dutch In 1862 he met Dutch landscape artist Johan Barthold landscape artist Johan Barthold Jongkind who continued Jongkind who continued Monet’s art instruction. Monet Monet’s art instruction. Monet would years later credit would years later credit Jongkind with “the definitive Jongkind with “the definitive training of my eyes.” training of my eyes.”

• Monet returned to Paris in Monet returned to Paris in 1862 to study at the studio 1862 to study at the studio of Charles Gleyer. of Charles Gleyer.

• While in Paris Monet While in Paris Monet meets Camille Doncieux, meets Camille Doncieux, who becomes his model who becomes his model and his companion. and his companion.

• In 1866 he did a painting In 1866 he did a painting of her entitled of her entitled La Femme à La Femme à la Robe Verte, la Robe Verte, it garnered it garnered rave reviews at the Salon. rave reviews at the Salon.

• In 1867 a son, Jean Monet In 1867 a son, Jean Monet is born to Monet and is born to Monet and Camille. Claude and Camille. Claude and Camille were married on Camille were married on June 26, 1870. June 26, 1870.

• In the ensuing years In the ensuing years Monet painted Camille and Monet painted Camille and Jean many times. In 1878 Jean many times. In 1878 a second son, Michel, was a second son, Michel, was born. Camille died the born. Camille died the following year after a long following year after a long illness. illness.

SERIESSERIES

•Around 1890 Monet began his ‘Series’ paintings. He would paint the same motif:– At different times of the day.– In different weather, sunny, cloudy, fog.– From different angles.– At different times of the year.

GIVERNEYGIVERNEY

• In 1883 Monet rented a house in Giverney. In 1883 Monet rented a house in Giverney. By 1890 he was financially able to purchase By 1890 he was financially able to purchase the house and adjacent lot, that contained a the house and adjacent lot, that contained a small pond. small pond.

• He began recreating the gardens and He began recreating the gardens and enlarging the pond. The pond would enlarging the pond. The pond would eventually become four times its original eventually become four times its original size. size.

• A Japanese bridge would be built across it. A Japanese bridge would be built across it. A trellis would be added to the bridge and a A trellis would be added to the bridge and a wisteria vine trained to grow across it. The wisteria vine trained to grow across it. The pond he filled with water lilies. pond he filled with water lilies.

DécoratifDécoratif

• In 1898 Monet had begun thinking about a grand In 1898 Monet had begun thinking about a grand decoration in which the lily pond would be the decoration in which the lily pond would be the model. He spoke of it to Maurice Guillemot a model. He spoke of it to Maurice Guillemot a writer, this is the published account.writer, this is the published account.

• ““Imagine a circular room whose wall below the Imagine a circular room whose wall below the support plinth would be entirely occupied by a support plinth would be entirely occupied by a horizon of water spotted with vegetation, horizon of water spotted with vegetation, partitions of a transparency made by turns of partitions of a transparency made by turns of green and mauve, the peace and quiet of the still green and mauve, the peace and quiet of the still water reflecting flowering expanses; the tones water reflecting flowering expanses; the tones are vague, delightfully varied, of a dreamlike are vague, delightfully varied, of a dreamlike sublety. sublety.

Orangerie des TuileriesOrangerie des Tuileries

• Monet wrote to his friend Clemenceau regarding a donation Monet wrote to his friend Clemenceau regarding a donation of two decorative panels to commemorate the end of WWI of two decorative panels to commemorate the end of WWI (1918). Clemenceau wanted instead the grand decoration (1918). Clemenceau wanted instead the grand decoration Monet had spoken of ten years earlier. Monet had spoken of ten years earlier.

• A site was found, the Orangerie des Tuileries, in Paris. The A site was found, the Orangerie des Tuileries, in Paris. The architect was Camille Le fevre (architect of the Louvre) who architect was Camille Le fevre (architect of the Louvre) who works closely with Monet on the size and shape of the works closely with Monet on the size and shape of the rooms. rooms.

• By 1923 Monet is nearly blind in both eyes from cataracts. By 1923 Monet is nearly blind in both eyes from cataracts. Dr. Coutela performs two operations in one eye, and Monet Dr. Coutela performs two operations in one eye, and Monet regains some of his sight. regains some of his sight.

• Jacques Mawas, an oculist uses special Zeiss lenses to Jacques Mawas, an oculist uses special Zeiss lenses to create new spectacles for Monet that result in an create new spectacles for Monet that result in an immediate improvement. immediate improvement.

Water LiliesWater Lilies

• There were twenty two panels, some as There were twenty two panels, some as large as 6x9 feet. large as 6x9 feet.

• A special studio had been built in 1916 to A special studio had been built in 1916 to house the paintings while he worked on house the paintings while he worked on them.them.

• Claude Monet died on December 5, Claude Monet died on December 5, 1926.1926.

• The Water Lily murals were dedicated in The Water Lily murals were dedicated in the musée L’Orangerie on May 17, 1927. the musée L’Orangerie on May 17, 1927.

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