On the 14th of November, 1840, the French painter Claude Monet was born to Claude-Adolphe and Louise-Justine Aubrée Monet in Paris, France. From the start, it was clear that Monet’s interests lied in the arts, as in his younger years, his father wanted him to help out his family by running and managing the family’s business running a grocery store. However, Monet went against his father’s wishes stating that he wanted to become an artist. When he attended secondary school, he became recognized locally for the caricatures he made with charcoal. Monet also studied under Jacques-François Ochard and Eugène Boudin who played vital roles in forming the Claude Monet that is recognized today.
Impressionism
Claude Monet is regarded as one of the pioneers of impressionism during the early 1860s. Compared to most artists during that period, impressionism was done at the scene itself or “en plein air,” using techniques that could get the idea or silhouette of their subject while working swiftly using quick brush strokes that are separated into dabs. In contrast, most artists of the time would work in a studio and take their time to finish a piece. With this technique Monet developed and mastered, he is able to show a more accurate impression of how light and color interact with each other in a scene.
Famous Works
It is estimated that Monet has made 2,500 paintings; among these, a few stand out from the rest. The impressionist movement that brought him to the success that he is still recognized for today has made his impressionist paintings gather art connoisseurs and critics alike. Of all of the paintings he has worked on, his most recognizable and well-known is entitled “Impression, Sunrise,” which was first seen in an exhibition in Paris in April of 1874 captivating those who first saw it and the thousands of eyes that continue to visit and marvel in its beauty today.
Impact
The works of Claude Monet have influenced multiple generations of artists, showing them that art is something that is to be experimented with and not perfected. His art has touched the hearts of many, bringing post-impressionist artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, among the most recognizable artists to date. Other than the post-impressionist movement, Monet also inspired other movements like abstract expressionism with renowned artists such as Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock. Seeing the artists that have been pushed by the art of Monet, it is certain that Monet has influenced all the artists of today in one way or another, showing just how wide the net that he cast was.
With art, there is never just one interpretation, one work can be interpreted in a completely different way from the artist’s intention. However, in the eyes of Claude Monet, art is a picture with vivid colors and moments of fleeting scenes that have become immortalized in the vision and style of an artist. Art can reveal the outlook of the life of an artist, and in Monet’s case, it shows his viewers beautiful sceneries that showcase a masterful interaction of light and the surroundings it touches, leaving an indelible mark on the people who have been touched by these works.
Photo Attribution:
1st and featured image by https://pixabay.com/photos/painter-artist-claude-monet-62934/
2nd image by https://pixabay.com/photos/claude-monet-painting-oil-on-canvas-81511/
