Claude Monet, the founder of French impressionistic painting, with his approach and style, influenced a generation of artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Oscar-Claude Monet and the Impressionist movement go hand-in-hand. The artist pioneered a novel concept that prioritized light and color over form. Instead of narrating stories through his paintings, Monet aimed to transmit the “impression” or sensation, that the landscapes stirred in the subject. The use of bolder and brighter colors is perceived as a massive break away from traditional art. Although Monet created over two thousand artworks, below is a list of the five most popular Monet paintings that the world adores
The Terrace of Sainte-Andresse, 1967
The setting for this artwork is Sainte-Andresse, the spa town on the Norman coast. The painting portrays the terrace of a house with a magnificent view of the sea. It is believed that the subjects in the painting are familiar to Monet, implying that it could be a tribute to his roots. The background of the artwork displays fluttering flags in the sea breeze and sailboats, incorporating a lot of movement in the painting.
La Grenouillère, 1869
La Grenouillère was a popular spa resort during the 19th century, with a floating cafe and boating facilities. Young Monet and Renoir went together on a painting trip to La Grenouillère. Both the artists set up their easels outdoors and painted the resort and middle-class people enjoying themselves. Surprisingly, both Renoir and Monet created a similar-looking rendition of La Grenouillère.
Impression, Sunrise, 1872
Impression, Sunrise is the artwork that offered the name to the French impressionism art movement. Monet in this painting depicted Le Havre, the port city in Normandy, which is also the artist’s hometown. The loose strokes of the painting rendered it emblematic of Impressionism. On the other hand, the colors capture the essence of the maritime scene.
Woman with a Parasol, 1875
Most of Monet’s paintings were landscapes. However, in this painting, Monet painted two people very dear to him, Jean and Camille, his 8-year-old son and his lovely wife respectively. This painting is not a classical piece of painting, rather a genre painting. Monet had taken only a few hours to create this incredible masterpiece.
Nymphéas (Waterlilies)
Nymphéas is a remarkable painting from Monet’s Water Lilly series. The artist spent the last thirty years of his life painting water lilies. The artworks of the series represent the trademark of the Impressionist movement. The water lilies of Monet are hands-down the most iconic paintings of all time, scattered all across the globe and widely adored.
So, which is your favorite Monet painting?
