Claude Monet and Nature

Claude Monet was born in Paris in 1840 and would become known as one of France’s famous painters. Monet is often attributed with being the leading figure of the style of impressionism; but this was not always the case. Monet started out his career as a caricaturist, showing great skill. Eventually “Monet began to accompany [Eugène] Boudin as the older artist . . . worked outdoors, . . . this “truthful” painting, Monet later claimed, had determined his path as an artist.” Monet’s goal took off as his popularity grew in the mid 1870s after he switched from figure painting to the landscape impressionist style. William Seitz supports this statement through his quote, “The landscapes Monet painted at Argenteuil between 1872 and 1877 are his best-known, most popular works, and it was during these years that impressionism most closely approached a group style. Here . . . he painted the sparkling impressions of French river life that so delight us today” such as The Riverbank at Petit-Gennevilliers, Sunset. When impressionism began to approach a group style, it allowed for the movement to gain notoriety, which ultimately led to Monet’s recognition in the art community as a skilled painter. In order to produce his captivating landscapes pieces, Monet took advantage of the nature that surrounded him, ultimately allowing him to produce his awe-inspiring pieces. Monet was able to succeed in his mission in becoming one of the greatest painters in history by producing nature inspired landscape scenes such as Red Boats, Argenteuil, Arrival of the Normandy Train, the Magpie, the Train in the Countryside, and the Riverbank at Petit-Gennevilliers, Sunset.

In “Why Monet Gave up Figure Painting”, Anne Wagner uses Monet’s painting of Le Dej...

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