Monet And His World Essay Example For Students

Monet And His World Essay I have always been interested in the impressionist style of art, especially the work of Claude Monet. When making my book selection I took this under consideration and chose a book written by Raymond Cogniat entitled Monet and His World. This lively illustrated book is written with great detail. Using explanations, illustrations, pictures and paintings, Cogniat helps to illustrate not only the life of Monet, but also the world of Impressionism, art and French society during Monets time. You are thrust into the life of this painter and his frame of mind throughout the various stages in his life. Cogniat discusses a vast variety of artistic techniques and movements. He aids us in understanding Monets motives and life behind the paintings I have learned a great deal about impressionism from this books and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in impressionist art. Monet and His World was published in 1966. The majority of the paintings are shown in black and white, which definitely takes away the beauty of them. It also makes us it harder to understand Mounts techniques of painting without chiaroscuro using light and shade in pictorial representation. I was lucky enough to acquire a colored picture book of Monets paintings called Monet, from the Crown Art Library series. It provides some basic information about Monets life but primarily focuses on explaining each painting in detail. The book opens discussing the early life of Claude Monet. He was born in Paris in the year of 1840 to a family of grocers. He spent most his childhood at Le Havre where he earliest interests in art could be traced to his aunt, Mme Lecadre who was a amateur painter. Monet lead a relatively normal childhood. By the time he was fifteen years of age, Monet had begun his artistic journey. He discovered his talent in drawing caricatures1, which he even displayed at a local shop. The shop was owned by the painter Boudin, who recognized that Monets talent far excelled caricatures. Boudin took the young artist under his wing and he eventually became the boys mentor and inspiration. It was from Boudin that Monet received his first artistic training. He began to learn about the fluid qualities of scenery, which would later lead to the creation of impressionism. Monets family did not accept his commitment to art; they wanted him to follow the family trade. He traveled to Paris where he met Pissaro and Courbet. In 1860 he drew an unlucky number from the military lottery. The family could have spared him the experience by paying for a substitute, yet they decided that he needed the reality check. He was forced to serve in North Africa for two years, until he fell ill. His familys hope was crushed, for the trip has strengthened Monets bond with nature and art. He returned home where he continued to paint luminous landscapes with Boudin and his new friend Jongkind. Paris was calling Monet, and he returned there in the fall of 1862. There he joined Gleyres studio where he began to take his work more seriously than ever before. At Gleyres studio he befriended Renoir, Sisley and Bazille. They had much in common, and upon the closing of the studio in 1863 the four decided to form their own school in the forest of Fontainebleau. There the four young men painted, became one with nature and stood undisturbed by society. They painted in plein air, where the light and wind served as models; this marked the first step toward impressionism. They soon after became acquaintance with Eduoward Manet, a controversial painter whose techniques closely resembled their own. Monet and his friends now had to participate in the struggle of success. The Themes of the American Dream, Racism, and White Privilege in Between the World and Me, a Novel by Ta-Nehisi Coates EssayDuring that year he made his last group exhibition. Monet spent most his days painting. In 1881 he moved to Poissy with the family of an acquaintance the Hoschedes. The traveled vastly during that time. In 1883 he made his first step toward actual stability when he settled at Giverny, where he would remain for the rest of his life. He had many large one-man shows arranged for him around the world in places such as Berlin, Boston and London. The popularity of impressionism was progressively expanding. For every insult he had ever incurred he now received praise. In 1892 Monet married Alice Hoschede, with whom he had had an affair during his marriage to Camille. In that year he painted with the realization that every aspect of the scene was altered in accordance with the changing light. This was to become an obsession in his later years. At last, Monet gained notoriety. He knew several important people and he became financially secure for the first time in his life. He once again began work on several series including the Haystacks7 1890-1893, Poplars 1890-1891 and the Rouen Cathedrals8 1892- 1895. With this new found luxury Monet was able to devote himself to gardening which, in turn, provided a motif for the painters last important work, the Water Lilies9 series. Monet was absorbed in this project almost exclusively from 1900 until his death. He continued his traveling throughout Europe. His son Jean married one of Mme. Hoschedes daughter in 1897. Monets eight sight began to deteriorate in 1900 after an accident and would continue throughout the rest of his life due cataracts. His wife parted in the spring of 1911 and his son Jean in the winter of 1914. Of the great impressionists, Monet lived the longest. He died on September 26, 1926 at Giverny. He watched his friends and acquaintances leave his world, and watched the world take on a significant amount of change. He spent his last years secluded from the world working on a state commission for a water-lillies mural which was to be installed in the basement of the Tuileries Garden. The impressionist had contributed a great deal to society and left a lasting impression on the world of art. He had reached the heights of his dreams and lead a fulfilling life. Impressionism sought to revitalize artistic vision through the use of colored shadows, the exclusion of black and the use of bright colors. The paintings of Monet also revolve around the fluid qualities of water and light and the importance of speed. It paved the road for many other forms of art, such as Divisionism and Pointillism. It also inspired many other artists, among these are Van Gogh anf Gauguin. Monets vision is alive and well and today. The works of Monet and the other impressionists can be found in Museums worldwide. The once-controversial form of art has become a classic which will continue to be honored as long as water-lillies grace our gardens.