By Christoph Heinrich
Called the “Prince of the Impressionists”, Claude Monet (1840-1926) transformed expectations for the purpose of paint on canvas. Monet did not seek to render only reality, but the act of perception itself. Working “en plein air” with rapid, impetuous brush strokes, he interpretted the play of light on the hues, patterns, and contours and the way in which these visual impressions fall upon the eye.
Monet's interest in this space “between the motif and the artist” encompassed too, the ephemeral nature of each image we see. He returned to the same motif in different seasons, different weather conditions, and at different times of the day, to explore the constant mutability of our visual environment. Examples of this are his series of water lillies, poplars, grain stacks and the Rouen Cathedral.
This book offers the essential introduction to an artist whose works simultaneously reflected upon the purpose of a picture and the passage of time, and in so doing, transformed irrevocably the story of art.
Each book in Taschen’s Basic Art series features a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance, a concise biography, and approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions.
Hardcover with jacket, 96 pages
Dimensions: 8.5 x 10.5 x 0.5 inches
“For me, the subject is of secondary importance: I want to convey what is alive between me and the subject.” — Claude Monet
Claude Monet's Rounded Flower Bed (Corbeille de Fleurs), c 1876, is a included in the Detroit Institute of Arts' collection.
This book is a great memento from the exhibition, Monet Framing Life, which will be at the Detroit Institute of Arts from October 22, 2017 — March 4, 2018.
