Claude Monet

  Claude Monet

   To tell the truth, I’m a big fan of Claude Monet.

   The reason why is that he is obsessed with light and shadow. I remembered a report said, Monet’s earliest interest in light and shadow originated from the observation of the weather. The light and shadow of nature in the natural world to make Monet very fascinated. I also have the same feeling when I do photography. I really like the changing between light and shadow in the huge space or even on a tiny object.

   Also, Monet has never used his works to show his desire for history, society, destiny, and ambition.  When I stand in front of his painting, I can feel his feeling and ‘temper’. Houses, flowers, and trees were not be meticulously crafted in their paintings, and they were clearly present in strokes. They were all in a group of contoured images that merge into the boundless scenery and became the scene in the eyes of the audience.

  So, when I saw this artwork in MoMA, I couldn’t help but saying that’s it!

   According to MoMA’s description, Monet depicted his Japanese-style pond covered with water lilies in this triptych, at center, shimmering with reflections of clouds overhead. The lilies in this painting are very abstract.  It shows a mysterious, shifting world.

   The painting is made of merging brush strokes forming the abstract missing color. In the darker area of the canvas with water seems to be shadow, it has cool green depth of pine forest . Lighter area reflects back the sky. There are also vast dense surfaces reflecting sunlight. Floating lilies’ pads have a large portion of the painting. Pink, lilac and yellow colors conveys water lilies themselves.  Nothing is clearly defined.

   Monet painted the water ripples and lily pads using quick brush strokes and an abundance of curved lines.The light-handed technique has given the canvas a soft, fluid texture that’s full of movement, so the eye roams in all directions.

   This curving triptych of three mural-sized panels like large decorations lines a room. The water in the lily pond or the sky has no edges or corners. Here I am as a person, here's the view that the painter is portraying for me. I become lost in this expanse of water and of light that is unique in modern art. Manet said that Monet is the Raphael of water. In this painting, Monet depicted the infinite charm of water. With the light and shadow of water, I can feel the surrounding around the pond. Without any consideration, this masterpiece is really gorgeous.