Monet’s Lily Pads at the Museum of Modern Art
Impressionism, a nineteenth century Parisian art movement, began almost by chance with the unveiling of Claude Monet’s famous painting, Impression, soleil levant (Impression, sunrise). The term Impressionism was applied pejoratively to Monet’s painting by art critic Louis Leroy in a review of the work, and since then adherents have gathered happily under that title. Monet (1840-1926), is credited with founding the movement which boasts names such as Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas and Édouard Manet.
These painters all built off one another and, as such, have formed some fundamental creative techniques for future artists. Impressionists, for example, applied paint in thick, broad and often overlapping strokes – a style called impasto; and, in a break from tradition, they avoided the use of black paint. Also, they often employ varying light schemes and apply colors in layers before allowing the original application to dry – a technique that allows for a more textured canvas. Additionally, they encouraged painting in the evening in order to capture the silvery shadows that play on the objects as the sun descends.
On display for the first time in the history of the Museum of Modern Art are selections from Monet’s late works of artistic representation. Included in the exhibition is Monet’s massive triptych, a series of three side-by-side paintings spanning almost twenty feet in length. Also included is his famous Japanese Footbridge (c. 1920–22), and Agapanthus (1914–26), a painting that takes a step back from water lilies and depicts the dark green foliage growing around the pond. This painting bears particular testimony to Monet’s vast abilities and breadth of artistic vision.
Monet’s use of massive canvases was revolutionary for his time, and some of his more grandiose paintings were greeted with unanimous dissent. Only in the twentieth century were they rediscovered and consequently celebrated. This exhibit abounds with dark hues and masterful colors, and, as such, is a special opportunity to see so much of Monet’s specialized work as well as to gain an appreciation for what made him so great.
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