Claude Monet is a great artist who became the founder of French impressionism. His painting style is now considered a classic. It is characterized by individual strokes of pure color that help accurately convey the richness of the air.
Childhood, youth
Claude Monet was born on November 14, 1840 in Paris. He grew up in a grocer's family and his father wanted his son to continue the family business. When Claude was 5 years old, his family moved to Le Havre. The future artist did not differ in exemplary behavior and often skipped school. He painted rocks, stones and painted caricature portraits of teachers on the covers of school notebooks. In this field, he succeeded and soon gained fame. In the city he was considered the best cartoonist.
Claude Monet's parents were not very willing to give him pocket money, so the young artist decided to sell his paintings. And they were willingly bought. In the picture shop, he met Eugene Boudin, who became his teacher and opened for him the world of landscape painting.
Career
Eugene Boudin convinced Claude Monet to go through training and Monet went to Paris, where he studied at a school for poor artists, visited exhibitions and galleries. In 1861 he was called up for military service in the cavalry troops and sent to Algeria. Of the 7 years put in service, he spent only 2, and then he contracted typhoid fever and returned home after treatment.
Monet's desire to study and paint something more serious led Monet to Charles Gleyer's studio. There he met several talented artists of that time, who had views on painting similar to his own. Monet's first paintings were:
- "Breakfast on the grass";
- "Lady in Green";
- "Woman in the Garden."
The artist planned to present the painting “Breakfast on the Grass” at the exhibition, but because of the difficult financial situation, the work had to be sold and, instead, presented to the jury “Lady in Green”. It is interesting that the jury did not like this work and was not even allowed to enter the competition, and subsequently it was sold for a lot of money.
Impressionism
Claude Monet became one of the founders of a new direction in painting - impressionism. The main goal of impressionist artists is to feel the beauty of the moment and express it on the canvas. They wrote in large strokes, used pure colors, abandoning the usual mixing.
Claude Monet neglected the lines and replaced them with separate short strokes. He loved to observe how nature changed depending on weather conditions, and tried to convey this on canvases. Looking at his paintings, you can even feel the subtle movement of the wind.
With the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, Monet went to England, where he met a man who sold paintings. This acquaintance led to long-term cooperation. Claude Monet managed to solve material problems, to buy a house in his homeland in Argenteuil. There he lived a few happy years. During this period, he managed to write some of his most successful works:
- "Impression. Sunrise";
- "A field of poppies at Arzhantey."
Claude Monet loved to draw a whole series of works. These were canvases united by a common theme. Writing several paintings allowed the artist to better reveal the beauty of some places, or the character of a person. Some of the most famous series:
- "Ricks" (1881-1891 years, 22 paintings);
- "Poplars" (1892, 20 paintings);
- "Rouen Cathedral" (1895, 30 paintings);
- "Nymphos. Landscapes of water" (1900, 25 panels).
A little later, the artist wrote the second series of "Nymphos." Landscapes of water turned out amazingly well. Pictures were quickly sold at the most prestigious auctions.
Life in Giverny
Having saved some money, Claude Monet decided to move to the village of Giverny, located on the banks of the Seine. During this period in the life of the artist there were tragic events related to the death of his wife and eldest son. But financially, everything was very good, since his paintings were in great demand.
In Giverny, Claude Monet not only continued to create, but also significantly expanded his garden. The artist was also an excellent gardener. He liked to contemplate the result of his labors, to rest in the shade of trees. In his garden he worked. There he mastered the new technique of writing masterpieces. He painted several paintings at once and could devote a couple of hours to writing one work, then moving on to another. This made it possible to catch different lighting and embody it on the canvas. He also tries to convey the nuances of lighting in a series of paintings. For example, a series of paintings depicting Cape Antibes is presented in the morning, afternoon, autumn, summer and spring lighting.
