Claude Monet: the truth of nature

Abstract

"Capturing fleeting natural impressions played a central role in the art of Claude Monet (1840-1926). He deeply engaged with the landscape and light of different places, from the metropolis of Paris to the Seine villages of Argenteuil and Giverny. This lavishly illustrated volume explores the development of Monet's art from the 1850s to the 1920s, focusing on the places, both at home and on his frequent travel, from which he drew inspiration for his painting. In addition, the book traces the critical shift in Monet's art that occurred when he began to focus on series of the same subjects such as haystacks, poplars, and the water lilies and pond at his meticulously designed garden in Giverny. Insightful and revealing, the book deepens our appreciation of Monet's art and allows us to experience anew his gift for bringing the natural world to life."

Contents

Entering the fray : Monet's sense of place in the 1860s / Paul Hayes Tucker -- Sur le motif : Monet, impressionism, and the practice of painting in nature / Daniel Zamani -- Monet as draftsman : from drawings to inner images / Marianne Mathieu -- "These palm trees are driving me crazy" : Monet, the south, and the intentional motif / Angelica Daneo -- Painter of modern life : Monet and the city / George T.M. Shackelford -- Monet and other people's places : travel, tourism, and competition / Richard Thomson -- Monet, Bergson, and Proust : observations on place, displacement, and poetry / James H. Rubin.