the sower and the haystack

When one gazes upon Monet’s art work, especially his haystack series, it is rather easy to see nature as momentary and ever changing. Monet’s haystacks were constantly yet subtly changing with the passing hours of the day and with the changes of the seasons. Wheatstacks, snow effect, morning is the particular haystack painting that will be focused on. Van Gogh’s The sower (in the setting sun), focuses on complementary colors and symbolism which allows us to view nature in a monumental and more eternal way. One of Van Gogh’s main interests were to paint farming subjects, capturing the field and the hard working peasants or farmers. More specifically the sower was his choice figure, due to the strong symbolism it held. Symbolism seemingly preoccupied Van Gogh during this time, as the sower became an icon for Van Gogh. We see a man standing alone in the middle of nature, and his actions of sowing the field bring life and prosperity.

Monet took time to do a series of haystacks, focusing on subtle changes and the emotion of the colors. Monet painted the haystacks in the evening, dawn, sunset and in the snow during winter. Like Van Gogh, Monet paid special attention to color as well, aspiring to harmonize shades to contrast his heightened value and intensity of colors.

Color was also a key aspect in all of Van Gogh’s art. Van Gogh traveled to Provence seeking for a stronger more intense light as well as vivid colors. For this artist the south of France was a pristine paradise. The Sower is covered in violet and yellow which are complementary colors. Complementary colors when placed next to each other allow the other to appear more vibrant and stunning, which explains why the paint seems to be almost glowing in this image.

Roger M...

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...tend beyond the edges of the canvas. The shadows, which are clear and sharp in the winter light help define contrast and enable the viewer to ascertain the actual time of day. Monet was determined to render “instantaneity” above all atmosphere, the same light diffused everywhere, and Monet had a passion to paint what he experienced. Monet said the motif itself is an insignificant factor, for what he wanted to reproduce was what laid between the motif and him.

Van Gogh said he was plowing on a canvas as they do on the fields, equating the act to manual labor. The material and physical world was so important that the figure becomes part of the earth. On this physical field the sun is emanating and acting on the earth, as it is the powerful center of the painting. This image shows things becoming something else through the sun, such as the seeds turning into crops.