Monet believed he was good at two things, gardening and creating art – two passions which had a symbiotic relationship.
Claude Monet (1840-1926) was an established artist before he moved to the French countryside in Giverny; however, his productivity and the level of recognition for his work reached new heights while he lived there.
Monet is one of the founding fathers of the impressionist movement. He and his peers (Renoir, Pissarro, Sisley, Cezanne, Degas, Berthe, and Morisot) received lukewarm receptions showing their work at major galleries, salons, and exhibitions. The traditionalists of that time felt that the work was rough and unfinished. Consequentially, the “impressionists” created their own opportunities to exhibit their work.
Monet loved spending time painting outdoors (en plein air). The invention of transportable oil paint tubes allowed artists to leave the studios. Painting en plein air was a hallmark trait of the impressionists – artists were able to capture a scene while experiencing nature in the moment. Impressionist landscapes focus on the energy, mood, light, color, and shadows of a scene instead of on minute details; photography assumed the role of capturing realism.
Monet’s Water Lilies: Great Art Explained
Monet had the habit of painting the same scene multiple times to capture changes in the light, the colors of nature, and the passing of seasons. He drew inspiration from ukiuo-e, a form of Japanese art. Monet and his impressionist peers are considered the basis for modern and contemporary art – New York artists Rothko and Pollock learned from Monet.
Today, impressionism is one of the most popular artistic movements, and the painters who were outcast during their time are some of the most beloved – calendars, postcards, posters, and stickers can be found in abundance.
I had the privilege of spending a day at Claude Monet’s house, studio, and gardens in Giverny, France, and it was spectacular. If you really enjoy gardens, and you like the impressionist style of painting, please include a visit to Claude Monet’s home on your to-do list.