Essential Monet

"It really is appallingly difficult to do something which is complete in every respect, and I think most people are content with mere appropriations. Well, my dear friend, I intend to battle on, scrape off and start again." ~ Claude Monet ~ Claude Oscar Monet and Piere-Auguste Renoir, my top two favorite artists of all-time, belonged to the same league of painters whose works have the qualities of timeless beauty and elegance. Monet was acknowledged as the leader of Impressionist movement for his painting shown on page 74, "Impression, Soleil Levant," which was exhibited in 1874 by the Society of Painters, Sculptors and Engravers in which he was a founding member. The word "Impressionist" was first used by an art critic in Paris, M. Louis Leroy, who attended the exhibition and wrote an article about it. Thus, the birth of Impressionist Movement and Monet became known as the "Father of Impressionism." This book "Essential Monet" by Vanessa Potts is a detailed examination of the artist's work, life and career. It contains a ten-page introduction written by Dr. Claire O'Mahony, a writer whose specialty is 19th Century Art. She is also a Curator for the 19th Century Exhibitions at the Richard Green Gallery in London. This book chronicles Monet's artistic evolution from a caricaturist to one of the world's best-loved artists of all-time. He started as a caricaturist in 1857 and two of his caricatures are shown here. His caricatures were mostly of famous people from his home town so it drew a lot of attention. He was paid well for his sketches and was able to save enough money which eventually paved the way to his art lessons in Paris. The 120 images reproduced in this remarkable book, which I wholeheartedly recommend to art lovers, are arranged chronologically from 1857 through 1926. Most of the pieces are considered his very best and significant works. Each piece of art is shown with respective description in detail. He mostly depicted sceneries of Parisian lifestyle engaging in leisurely activities such as picnicking (The Picnic On The Grass), sailing (Pleasure Boats), boating (La Barque), strolling by the riverside (Soldiers Strolling By The Riverside), relaxing on the beach (On The Beach At Trouville), reading a book in a garden (The Lover of Reading - this is one of my favorites found on page 63), walking along countryside (Walking Near Argenteuil) and relaxing in a garden (Women In The Garden). It is always interesting to read biographies of some of the greatest and most brilliant artists such as Claude Monet and scrutinize his amazing works and appreciate them for their timeless splendor. I believe he was one the most fascinating figures in the art world. His landscapes, seascapes, waterscapes, still lifes, portraits are all masterpieces of endless charms marked by brilliant, vibrant and hearty brushstrokes with harmony and balance. I could hear him saying... "I would like to paint the way a bird sings."