Oscar-Claude Monet is an internationally revered French painter who is worshipped by many art enthusiasts for being one of the founders of the ‘Impressionism’ movement that rejected the traditional ‘Realism’ way of painting. Being at the vanguard of this avant-garde drive, Monet focused on producing increasingly naturalistic work using a plein-air painting technique.
Claude Monet has created revolutionary masterpieces that lures record-breaking crowd of the art aficionados. His incredible magnum opuses portray an immediate impression of the landscape and seascape directly on to the canvas with the application swift, short and deft brushstrokes. And this still arouses immense interest among impressionist art buffs who thoroughly study the pioneering artworks of this famous painter.
Here we’ve master-crafted Claude Monet’s 5 most recognizable Monet’s paintings that are the epitome of French impressionism.
Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies
https://www.1st-art-gallery.com/Claude-Oscar-Monet/Water-Lily-Pond.html
‘Water Lilies’ by Claude Monet is his chef-d’oeuvre which is an incredible compilation of approximately 250 oil paintings showcasing Monet flowers and ‘Bridge over a Pond’ is one of the beloved masterpieces of this massive series. Produced at his home in Giverny in 1899 this absolute work of art unbelievably stunning measures 36.5 by 29 inches that exudes the horticultural theme.
With an impression of an arched wooden bridge spanning a pond, large clumps of colorful water lilies, and the surrounding of lush green vegetation, this landscape painting not just radiates tranquility but also illustrates his unique technique of brush stroke. While Monet’s typical blue sky is missing, it is seen through the trees and reflected in the pond.
Women with a Parasol (1875)
https://www.1st-art-gallery.com/Claude-Oscar-Monet/The-Walk-Woman-With-A-Parasol.html
The oil-on-canvas painting is an ideal example of an Impressionist painting that is believed to have been produced by Claude Monet in a few hours. The spontaneous brushwork technique creates a splash of vibrant colors in this full-scale, multi-figure depiction that creates naturalness of casual family outing as Monet captures the effects of sunlight and shades.
Also, known as ‘The Stroll’ this genre painting has two subjects, Madame Monet and Her Son, who are wandering on a windy summer’s day. The silhouette of Madame Monet and her son against the swirling, blue sky depicts not just Monet’s skill as a figure painter but also his expertise in the depiction of light. The naturalness of the artwork can be felt in the movement of the air as it whips her voluminous, white dress and scarf around.
Women in the Garden (1866)
https://www.1st-art-gallery.com/Claude-Oscar-Monet/The-Artists-Family-In-The-Garden.html
Another work of art by Claude Monet is ‘Women in the Garden’ that features Madam Monet as three different subjects of the painting and is a clear representation of the impressionist art. Many believe that this work of art is a love letter expressing his love for Madam Monet before they got married.
Also, the aim of this masterpiece was to find a way to fit the figures into a landscape that would give an impression of air and light moving around them. He found the solution to this problem after creating this impressionist art where he painted the shadows, colored light, patches of sunshine penetrating through the foliage, and pale reflections. Moreover, the heavy brushstrokes highlight the technique of ‘en plein air’ which he was an expert at.
What’s more interesting about this piece of art, you may wonder? The answer: to make the white sunlit dresses look very fashionable, Monet makes use of the magazine illustrations to render the clothing which is an extraordinary method to add special effects.
Impression, Sunrise (1872)
https://www.1st-art-gallery.com/Claude-Oscar-Monet/Impression-Sunrise.html
The artwork that paved the way to the development of the Impressionism movement is none other than the tour de force titled as the ‘Impression’. Completed in the port city of Le Havre after France lost the war against Prussia, the painting is a beautiful illustration of the regeneration of this French harbor. With steamboats and cranes in the background and the small rowboats in the foreground, this work of art depicts the port to be very busy and a happening destination.
However, what steal the attention of the audience in this composition are the contrasting red sun and the clouds with an orange, blue and violet color. The artwork illustrates the idea of the city but not its specific elements. This definitely is the internationally acknowledged flagship of the French Impressionism.
Boating on the river Epte (1890)
https://www.1st-art-gallery.com/Claude-Oscar-Monet/Boating-On-The-River-Epte-2.html
‘Boating on the River Epte’ is one of the masterpieces from Claude Monet’s series about the River Epte. Monet has masterfully tried to capture water with undulating vegetation at the bottom. Also, known as ‘The Canoe on the Epte’ this painting portrays the proximity of the water and its depth but not the luminous reflection of the surface.
Also, it shows the thickness and darkness of the River Epte in addition to the seemingly glimpses of what lies underneath. This extraordinary technique of Monet’s is refined and more evident in famous magnum opuses like ‘Water Lilies’ and ‘Lily Ponds’.
This oil painting has two human subjects at the top right corner-Monet’s two daughters from his second wife who are rowing a boat on the river. What’s more interesting about this Impressionist art is the fact that the frame of the composition is not complete. This was brilliantly thought to give an illusion of movement.
A Revolution
Claude Monet, one of the founders of Impressions, has contributed immensely to revolutionizing the traditional way of art. While his style of painting was rejected by critics in the beginning, Impressionism art devotees revered the technique and followed his footsteps in creating more of Impressionist painting. To know more about Claude Monet’s commendable artwork or to have a reproduction on the wall of your house you can click here.
