Claude Monet, one of the prominent impressionism artists was born in Paris and spent his early years in Le Havre, a port town at the estuary of La Seine. He met a seascape painter, Eugene Boudin there and decided to go to Paris to become an artist due to his influence. In Paris he met Sisley, Renoir, Pisaro among others to form a group of impressionism and explored ways to capture natural light outdoors.
Throughout his life, his interests were always in nature that constantly changes under natural light. He created many series of works on the same motif that were painted at different times of the day in an attempt to contain changes of light and colors. In particular, Monet very ardently painted series of "Waterlilies" in the later years in his life. He created a pond of waterlilies in his garden of his home in Giverny and was totally absorbed in the production.
This "Waterlilies" has just water alone depicted throughout the entire canvas. The picture painted elaborately with bright colors tells us about the water that changed from one hour to another with the sun light, the reflection of the shades of trees and their leaves and ripples on the surface that arose under the winds.
Anecdote
In 1920 Torajiro Kojima visited Monet at his Giverny home outskirts of Paris with his best friend, Toyosaku Saito. Monet was 79 then and almost lost his sight by cataract. He was painting with his face very close to the canvas.
Monet already resided at the pinnacle of the art world at that time. He was unattainable for most artists including Kojima. But Monet loved Japanese Ukiyoe for its bold structure and colors as well as Japan to the point to have a Japanese garden in his own home.
Kojima and Saito earnestly asked him to sell them a painting "for Japanese painters". Going against the general practice in which they contacted an art dealer to negotiate with a first-class artist, they directly negotiated with Monet himself.
He might be moved by the enthusiasm of the Japanese. He promised to sell them a painting, saying, "I am working on a big project (1). Come again in a month time.(2)"
When Kojima visited him one month later, he made several paintings including "Waterlilies" ready for him to choose from "for Japanese artists". Kojima selected this "Waterlilies" out of them. In June, 2000, that came to Ohara Museum of Art are some roots separated from waterlilies in the pond in Monet's garden in Giverny. They bloom from June to October every year. Why don't you go visit the pond to enjoy them after seeing the art works?
1. In his diary, Torajiro Kojima wrote, "(He is ) engaged in a big project. It is two meters in height and four meters in width. Each of 30 panoramic paintings depict part of his garden." It is assumed that he referred to the series of Waterlilies currently housed in Orangerie Museum in Paris.
2.Kojima also wrote in his diary that he pleased Monet at this time by promising that he would send him seedlings of peonies from Japan later.
Waterlilies
Commentary
Claude Monet, one of the prominent impressionism artists was born in Paris and spent his early years in Le Havre, a port town at the estuary of La Seine. He met a seascape painter, Eugene Boudin there and decided to go to Paris to become an artist due to his influence. In Paris he met Sisley, Renoir, Pisaro among others to form a group of impressionism and explored ways to capture natural light outdoors.
Throughout his life, his interests were always in nature that constantly changes under natural light. He created many series of works on the same motif that were painted at different times of the day in an attempt to contain changes of light and colors. In particular, Monet very ardently painted series of "Waterlilies" in the later years in his life. He created a pond of waterlilies in his garden of his home in Giverny and was totally absorbed in the production.
This "Waterlilies" has just water alone depicted throughout the entire canvas. The picture painted elaborately with bright colors tells us about the water that changed from one hour to another with the sun light, the reflection of the shades of trees and their leaves and ripples on the surface that arose under the winds.
Anecdote
In 1920 Torajiro Kojima visited Monet at his Giverny home outskirts of Paris with his best friend, Toyosaku Saito. Monet was 79 then and almost lost his sight by cataract. He was painting with his face very close to the canvas.
Monet already resided at the pinnacle of the art world at that time. He was unattainable for most artists including Kojima. But Monet loved Japanese Ukiyoe for its bold structure and colors as well as Japan to the point to have a Japanese garden in his own home.
Kojima and Saito earnestly asked him to sell them a painting "for Japanese painters". Going against the general practice in which they contacted an art dealer to negotiate with a first-class artist, they directly negotiated with Monet himself.
He might be moved by the enthusiasm of the Japanese. He promised to sell them a painting, saying, "I am working on a big project (1). Come again in a month time.(2)"
When Kojima visited him one month later, he made several paintings including "Waterlilies" ready for him to choose from "for Japanese artists". Kojima selected this "Waterlilies" out of them. In June, 2000, that came to Ohara Museum of Art are some roots separated from waterlilies in the pond in Monet's garden in Giverny. They bloom from June to October every year. Why don't you go visit the pond to enjoy them after seeing the art works?
1. In his diary, Torajiro Kojima wrote, "(He is ) engaged in a big project. It is two meters in height and four meters in width. Each of 30 panoramic paintings depict part of his garden." It is assumed that he referred to the series of Waterlilies currently housed in Orangerie Museum in Paris.
2.Kojima also wrote in his diary that he pleased Monet at this time by promising that he would send him seedlings of peonies from Japan later.
Painting
Apple Picking
Small Table in Evening Dusk
Song of Songs (Le Cantique des Cantiques)
Haystacks
Waterlilies
Cliff of Gréville
Coutyard at the ‘Rondest House’, Pontoise
Woman Wearing a Hat with Silk Gauze
Delightful Land (Te Nave Nave Fenua)
All Things Die, But All Will Be Resurrected through God’s Love
Wave
Carriage and Pair
Three Dancers in Red Costume
Autumn Sea
Old Horse in the Wasteland
Landscape
Festival of Venis
Hair
Winter Orchard
Beethoven
Landscape of La Ferté-Milon
Annunciation