Claude Monet’s Journey to Impressionism

Claude Monet, often known for his breathtaking paintings of nature and water lilies, was one of the painters in the Impressionism movement. Impressionism was identified with painters who used loose brush strokes as if capturing the movement of nature, and often doing paintings in plein air. Monet would use the serene surroundings of his garden in Giverny for inspiration for his paintings. Although he achieved achievements through his artistic endeavors and relentless experimentation, Monet often struggled with self-doubt. Despite his towering reputation by 1918, Monet, then seventy-eight, confided in his friend René Gimpel,
“Painting causes me too much suffering. There’s everything in the past I’m not satisfied with, and the sheer impossibility of getting it right every time. Yes, every time I start a canvas I think I’m going to create a masterpiece, and it never, ever happens. It’s appalling, never being satisfied. I suffer terribly.”

London, Houses of Parliament. The Sun Shining through the Fog, Claude Monet, oil on canvas, 1904. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: Public Domain

The Early Influences: Boudin and the Birth of Monet’s Passion for Landscape

Oscar-Claude Monet was born in Paris on November 14, 1840. His journey into the world of painting began early, influenced by his time spent in a picture framer’s shop in Le Havre, where he learned the fundamentals of landscape painting under the guidance of Eugène Boudin. Boudin, a master of capturing the sea and sky, instilled in the young Monet a deep appreciation for the natural world and the changing effects of light and atmosphere.

Struggles and Success: Monet’s Life in Bougival and the Creation of La Grenouillère

Monet’s early years as a painter were marked by financial struggles, he even declared bankrupt. He faced hardships while supporting his first son with Camille, his future wife, who was left alone and penniless. Their financial difficulties intensified after moving to the village of Saint-Michel near Bougival in 1869. Despite these challenges, Monet produced some of his most tranquil and joyful works during this period, including the famous painting “La Grenouillère,” a lively depiction of a popular riverside resort.

Afterward, Monet lived in Vétheuil for three years, where he faced his lowest point, both publicly and personally, in grief and poverty. With the help of Édouard Manet, he was able to rent a large house, which was vital as he found a career as an art critic. Later on, Camille was discovered to have cancer and had been unwell since the birth of her second son, Michel, and passed away at the age of thirty-two. Monet, struck by his wife’s death, began painting in long strokes to express his emotional distress. He worked swiftly while painting and created works like Impression, Sunrise during this time. This painting was both revolutionary and controversial. Critics were divided, but Monet’s determination to break away from traditional artistic norms paved the way for a new era in art.

Water Lilies, Claude Monet, oil on canvas, 1917–1919. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: Public Domain.

Monet’s Painting Techniques and Strategies

Monet’s approach to painting was marked by an innovative use of color, light, and brushwork that sought to capture the essence of a scene rather than its precise details. He employed several key techniques and strategies throughout his career:

1. En Plein Air Painting: Monet was a pioneer of painting outdoors, or “en plein air,” which allowed him to observe and capture the changing effects of light and atmosphere directly from nature. This method became a cornerstone of the Impressionist movement.
2. Layered Brushstrokes: Monet’s brushwork evolved to include rapid, short strokes layered atop one another, creating a sense of movement and fluidity in his landscapes. This technique helped to convey the transient nature of light and color, a central focus of his work.
3. Focus on Light and Color: Monet was less concerned with exactitude and more with the interplay of light and shadow. He often painted the same scene at different times of the day or year to study the shifting effects of light, as seen in his series of the Rouen Cathedral and Haystacks.
4. Limited Use of Black: Unlike many of his contemporaries, Monet rarely used black paint, believing it to be too harsh. Instead, he relied on complementary colors to create depth and contrast, enriching his compositions with vibrancy and life.
5. Repetition and Series: Monet’s focus on repetition is evident in his famous series of water lilies, the Japanese bridge, and the Rouen Cathedral. By painting the same subjects under varying conditions, he was able to explore the nuances of light and atmosphere with remarkable depth.
6. Innovative Compositions: Monet’s compositions often featured unusual perspectives and cropping, influenced by Japanese art, which he greatly admired. This approach added a modern and dynamic quality to his work, setting it apart from traditional Western art.

Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge, Claude Monet, Oil on Canvas, 1897 -1899. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: Public Domain

Breaking Artistic Boundaries: The Dawn of Impressionism and Monet’s Masterpieces

As another attempt to raise money, Monet and other Impressionist painters organized a group exhibition where his twenty-nine canvases formed a significant portion of the contributions. It was during these group exhibitions, like the one at La Vie Moderne Gallery, that he began to gain recognition as he sold several landscape pieces, alleviating his financial burdens. Monet’s relentless pursuit of capturing the fleeting moments of light and color led to the creation of the Impressionist movement. His groundbreaking work, Impression, Sunrise, which gave the movement its name, was both revolutionary and controversial. Critics were divided, but Monet’s determination to break away from traditional artistic norms paved the way for a new era in art.

As Monet matured as an artist, he continued to push the boundaries of his work, exploring new techniques and subjects. In 1890, he created his major series of Haystacks, Poplars, Rouen Cathedral, and later the Waterlilies. The years that followed were successful with three of his works shown at the International Exhibition of 1899. However, despite his success, Monet remained his harshest critic, often expressing frustration with his inability to achieve the perfection he sought in his work.

Morning on the Seine near Giverny, Claude Monet, Oil on Canvas, 1897. Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: Public Domain

Monet Losing Sight

Following the death of his wife Alice in 1911, and his son Jean in 1914, he vowed to stop painting but Clemenceau, one of Monet’s friends, persuaded him to keep creating work. Monet had a huge studio built with a glass roof and began working at a surprising speed. He would work on canvas after canvas, but Monet’s son Michel, and stepdaughter Blanche were worried at how the elderly painter was constantly revising what he’d done. His sight was deteriorating and he had cataracts over his eyes in 1908. With the help of special aid glasses, he began paint again.

Conclusion

Claude Monet’s journey to becoming the father of Impressionism was fraught with challenges, both personal and professional. Yet, his unwavering commitment to his art and his relentless pursuit of capturing the beauty of the natural world have left an indelible mark on the history of art. Monet’s legacy is not just in the masterpieces he created but in the profound influence he had on the generations of artists who followed him. His work continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide, a testament to the enduring power of his vision.

If you’re interested in learning more about Impressionism, check out our last blog post on Impressionism and other art history articles. To learn more about art, Happy Hands Pottery & Art Studio is located in Brampton and we offer pottery, painting, drawing, and craft classes for various age groups.