Who is Claude Monet?

One thing I love about art is how it can express how I am feeling and act as a time machine. Over here in the untied states, New Jersey to be a bit more specific, we are experiencing a 5-day long heat wave! All I can think about, is my favorite activity that I enjoy doing when it is hot. That activity, is swimming! I love, love, love the water. Especially during a heat wave! Because I am currently working, I can’t go swimming. However, I can look at one of my favorite paintings by Claude Monet and imagine I am there. That painting is no other than Water Lillies!

Water Lilies by Claude Monet Photo Cred: The Art Institute of Chicago

Claude Monet (1840-1926) was a pioneering French painter and a key figure in the Impressionist movement, which sought to capture the natural world around us. This style of painting was later coined En Plein Air painting, which is French for  “painting outdoors”. Artist such as Monet would find a subject or scenic view, sit outside, and paint until it was complete! 

Claude Monet is renowned for his paintings titled Water Lilies because he painted the same lilies over 200 times under different light and weather conditions to study the small and significant changes. These lilies were located at his home garden in Giverny. These works, created between the late 1890s and his death in 1926, are celebrated for their vibrant color, dynamic composition, and masterful play of light. Monet's focus on the same subject from different perspectives and under varying light conditions exemplifies his dedication to capturing the beauty of nature. 

Impression Sunrise by Claude Monet Photo Cred: Smarthistory.org

The "Water Lilies" series is considered a cornerstone of Impressionist art. Impressionist art, which emerged in the late 19th century, is characterized by its focus on capturing the fleeting effects of light, color, and atmosphere in everyday scenes. Impressionist artists such as Claude Monet and others, used loose brushwork, vibrant colors, and an emphasis on light and movement — breaking away from the detailed realism and formal compositions of academic painting. The term "Impressionism" itself comes from Monet's painting "Impression, Sunrise."

Be sure to view ‘Water Lilies’ and ‘Impression Sunrise’ by Claude Monet! :) ​