Claude Monet

By: Sean Cox

Who is Claude Monet?

He was the founder of French impressionistic art Born: November 14, 1840 Died: December 5, 1926

What is Impressionism?
Impressionism was a 19th century art movement started by French artists. The name impressionism derives from Claude Monets painting, Impression, soleil levant (Impression, sunrise).

Impressionistic painting characteristics

Small, thin, but visible brush strokes Open composition Emphasis on accurate depiction of light (emphasis on time) Ordinary Unusual visual angles

Impression, Soleil Levant (Impression, sunrise)

Influences
Monet received his first drawing lessons from Jacques-Francois Ochard. In about 1856 Monet met fellow artist Eugene Boudin, who taught him to use oil paints. Boudin also had taught Monet outdoor painting techniques.

On the Bank of Seine, Bennecourt

Camille, His First Wife

The previous photo, On the Bank of Seine gives us a good example of the use of his wife as the model in some of his art. Camille gave birth to her first child, Jean (boy) in 1867. They married later in June 1870 Camille gave birth to another son in March 1878 September 5, 1879 Camille died of tuberculosis. Monet painted a painting of her on her death bed.

Camille Monet on her Deathbed

Grief
A grief had stricken Monet, resolving never to be poor again. Due to this, he painted some of his best paintings

The Artist's Garden at Vtheuil

The Fishermans House at Varengeville

The Cliffs at Etretat

Bordighera

Monets Second Wife, Alice

After the death of Alices husband, she married Monet in 1892. She already had six children of her own. The new, bigger family moved to Giverny, Normandy.

Giverny
Monet painted a lot of his own garden in Giverny. Water lilies, pond, and bridge. He also painted up and down the banks of the Seine.

The Seine at Giverny

Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies

Mediterranean
Between 1883 and 1908, Monet traveled to the Mediterranean. During this time, he painted landmarks, landscapes, and seascapes.

Houses of Parliament

Charing Cross Bridge

World War I
Monets son Michel and his friend Clemenceau were serving. Monet painted a series of weeping willow trees as respect to the French fallen soldiers.

Water Lily Pond and Weeping Willow

Cataracts
Monet went under operation in 1923 to remove his cataracts. Paintings done while his cataracts affected his vision have a reddish tone. After surgery he was also able to see certain ultraviolet wavelengths of light that are normally excluded by the lens of the eye.

Water Lily Pond

Haystacks, End of Summer

Sources
http://www.artrevived.com/blogs/artrevived-blog/1361322-monets-5-mostfamous-paintings http://www.artrevived.com/blogs/artrevived-blog/1361322-monets-5-mostfamous-paintings http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Mo net http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impressioni sm