Monet and his painting Water Lilies - Essay Example

?Introduction The painting, “Water Lilies,” by Claude Monet, is one which carries several elements of expression to the spectator. More important, this particular painting uses different techniques and ideologies to make a statement within society and the culture which Monet was in. The different concepts which Monet used in this particular painting were a part of a series which was able to show a true reflection and impression of nature as well as the shifts which were occurring during Monet’s time. However, it is the aesthetics that Monet uses in this piece that allows it to become a masterpiece and which has allowed it to stand out from a variety of paintings for a longer time frame. The painting of “Water Lilies” is one which shows Monet’s personal philosophies and which reflects the time frame. The form which is used and the content which is displayed both reflect the layers of ideologies that are a part of this painting. Form The “Water Lilies” painting, as seen in figure 1, was painted in 1906 and is currently at the Art Institute of Chicago. Figure 1: Water Lilies The painting is oil on canvas and is 87.6 x92.7 centimeters in size. This particular painting was a part of a series of water lilies which were painted from 1906 to 1926. The others are placed in various museums throughout the world. The brush strokes that are used with this specific painting are thicker in texture and include wider and long strokes that create the reflection of the leaves, water and the look of the lilies. This is combined with the shading which is created through the use of the oil paints, specifically which can be seen in the layers of the piece. The purple, white and pinks of the lilies are seen as brush strokes over the main layers which work as the background, specifically with the water and the reflection of the leaves in the water. The shading of the painting is not from light and dark, but instead comes from a darker and lighter mixture with each of the colors used. Content The content that is used by Monet is of the water lilies that are by a specific water body. The piece works as an Impressionist piece, which was used commonly by Monet as one which was defined by a glance or look at a specific scene at a given time. The impression which was left with the main look was what was painted, as opposed to manipulating or changing the textures that were with the piece of work. The impression is important to note because it defines elements that are not a part of the main expressions which an artist is trying to convey. Instead, the expression and message is sent through the natural scenery and the moment which is caught in the painting. It is this natural setting that is able to capture specific characteristics and relay a given message to the audience (Werner, 3). The Impressionism in this piece comes from looking at the water lilies and seeing the reflection and movement of the water. When looking at this piece, it can be seen that the impression was left with the water lilies, which stayed still in the water and which are seen by the layers of paint and color. The brush strokes of the water lilies are smaller and move upward, which creates a sense of stillness with the subject. The reflection of the leaves are seen with several layers of shading and with long brush strokes, which makes the eye move from one end of the canvas to the other. The portrayal of the water moves in the same way, which makes the water look like it is swaying or moving forward. Even though the water lilies are only on the right hand corner and left hand bottom corner, the changing brush strokes cause the eye to see the lilies as constant and not moving, despite the changing reflections and movement of the water. The content then leaves an impression on the natural elements and the characteristics, which show the lilies as a constant in the continuous changes of the water. Iconography The icons which are presented from the water lilies become important with this picture as well as the other subjects of water lilies which Monet painted until 1926. The main philosophy of Monet was based on capturing the presence of a moment and a place, specifically to give the feeling and emotion which was a part of nature and which would never again be recreated. Monet believed that this was the only way to present the truth of art and what was being looked into within nature. The icon and subjects were then based on moving outside of the artificial and back into nature to find what was honest, consistent and to create a specific reaction by spectators who were interested in the pieces of art. More important, it was to show a moment which could never be presented again in nature because of the continuous and constant change which Monet believed was a part of the natural element (Russell, 20). The icon of this piece represents the ideas of Impressionism which Monet was interested in. More important, the aesthetics that are a part of this piece move into the understanding which Monet had about how nature could reflect the spirituality of an individual. This was reflected from his earlier studies of Buddhism when he was in Japan, many of which were a part of his paintings. The images which Monet was known to study as well as the way in which this reflected was also what Monet considered as a reflection of the elements of men and the characteristics which they had or could acquire. In the instance of the water lilies, the silence and stillness of the flowers which moved against the constant change was also a reflection of the natural for man and the depiction of how men and nature were similar in their characters because of the dichotomy of being still and consistently moving (Russell, 24). Context The concepts which Monet presented in “Water Lilies” were furthered with the context of the time. The social and artistic movements during the time were changing outside of the Romantic notions of art and into experimentation. Avant-garde groups were beginning to rise in Germany, France and throughout Europe. Most of these were based on breaking the rules of the formulated art styles, which was insistent on specific measurements and proportions for art and which was interested in using defined colors and techniques to display a specific item. Monet was living in a time when this began to change. However, most of the contemporaries which surrounded Monet were working toward breaking rules and changing by moving outside of the beauty of art. Monet moved against this with the Impressionist ideas, which both broke the rules of the classical styles while moving against the conformity of the avant-garde and contemporary identity which was a part of the new culture (Callen, 756). The social and cultural movements that were known to influence the context of the painting were followed by other elements which were defined in society and by Monet. The individual ideals came from the self – reflection, such as through the Buddhist studies and the style of painting which Monet had. The water lilies were also representative of this, as Monet believed that the water was a reflection of the self and could lead to a transformation of understanding. This led into his beliefs in Buddhism as well as the orientalist approach which was taken with many of his works. This also reflected the context of society at the time, specifically with the opening of boundaries between East and West and the development in both areas. However, there was also a sense of nationalism which was a part of this, which was known to drive parts of Monet’s painting and the techniques used in a different manner. The nationalism, self – reflection and other orientalist ideals were furthered with the beginning of the war and revelation, much of which Monet responded to with the belief that there needed to be a way to find beauty in the world. These philosophies of self and the rejection of what was occurring in society can then be said to reflect in this particular piece (Levine, 276). Conclusion The concepts that Monet uses with “Water Lilies” is one which is profound because of the way that it presents the different ideals in society. This particular painting is able to link the ancient ideologies from Japan which Monet studied with the modernist concepts of the avant-garde and the ability to capture the moment. Monet was one of the only painters during this time who was leading into Impressionism and which understood that beauty is captured in the moment and can show and reflect human nature through other elements of the natural. This makes the piece not only a representation of Monet’s thoughts, but also of the time frame. The respect which I have toward this piece is then based on the story which is related to Monet’s philosophies, the time frame and the reflection which it gives to the spectator about nature and their own human identity. The concept of “Water Lilies” by Monet is one which only captures a moment of nature and the elements which are surrounding a pond full of lilies. However, the techniques captivate specific philosophies and ideals which were specific to Monet. The content of the water lilies remaining stable in the movement of the water, seen through the long brush strokes, is one which also creates layers of meaning. Monet was able to relate this to his ideologies about Buddhism, as well as showing his overall philosophies relating to Impressionism and the changes of the time period. These different concepts were able to work together in this piece to create a presentation of the individual and the time period and how each of these was changing. Works Cited Callen, Anthea. “Monet Makes the World Go Around: Art History and the Triumph of Impressionism.” Art History 22 (5), 1999. Levine, Steven. Monet, Narcissus, and Self – Reflection: The Modernist Myth of the Self. University of Chicago Press: Chicago, 1994. Russell, Vivian. Monet’s Water Lilies: The Inspiration of a Floating World. Frances Lincoln Limited: London, 1998. Werner John. “Aging through the Eyes of Monet.” Color Vision: Perspectives from Different Disciplines Walter de Gruyter: New York, 1998. Read More