Claude Monet: Capturing Reality

Claude Monet (1840-1926), hailed as the "Prince of the Impressionists", transformed expectations for the purpose of paint on canvas. Instead of simply portraying reality, Monet focused on the act of perception itself. Working outdoors with rapid brushstrokes, he examined the way light interacts with colors, patterns, and shapes, and how these visual impressions are perceived by the eye. Monet's interest in the space "between the motif and the artist" also extended to the fleeting nature of the images we see. In his famous water lily series, as well as his paintings of poplars, grain stacks, and the Rouen cathedral, he revisited the same subjects in different seasons, weather conditions, and times of day to explore the ever-changing visual environment. This book provides an essential introduction to an artist whose works not only pondered the purpose of a painting, but also the passage of time, forever altering the course of art history.

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