Claude Monet
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Monet lived in Argenteuil, on the outskirts of Paris, from 1871 to 1878. The town was rapidly developing into an industrial center, an expansion evoked by the juxtaposition of the church tower with the factory chimney in the center. The work looks as if it was painted quickly outdoors, but in fact Monet considerably reworked his initial painting. You can still see where he scraped away layers of paint, probably with the handle of his brush, from the trees on the right.
The subject matter of this painting is in many ways mundane. Monet’s focus is less on the modern city, however, than the effects of the seasons, the reflections on the water, and the array of colors in the trees—from orange and pink to purple and green—all evidence of his careful observation of fleeting moments.
If you would like to learn more about Impressionism, please check our online course on it. And if you would like to be close to the Impressionists everyday, check out our calendars with their masterpieces and quotes. : )
P.S. Do you like Impressionists? Here are our favorite paintings! And here's the best of Autumn in art, yum! <3
P.P.S. Here's all you need to know about Thanksgiving turkey preparation – with pictures! : D