monet has always been one of my favorite artists, there's something intensely passionate behind the simplicity of his subject matter. a man that appreciated the beauty of passing moments and captured those truths for us to see through his eyes. also his dedication to creating his own nature and ultimately controlling his own subject matter, really fascinates me. the best examples of these efforts culminate at giverny, where monet lived and painted until his passing. to walk through his gardens, view his beloved water lily ponds from his small wooden bridge, was an experience i will never forget.
i would recommend visiting giverny before viewing his last monumental work, Les Nymphéas, that's housed at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris. seeing the real thing first hand and then viewing his final paintings of the water lily series is very special. you pick up on certain things that you might not understand otherwise, like how sharply shades of green can change with the light, and the small details that pick up on the beauty of the reflections in the water.
i would recommend visiting giverny before viewing his last monumental work, Les Nymphéas, that's housed at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris. seeing the real thing first hand and then viewing his final paintings of the water lily series is very special. you pick up on certain things that you might not understand otherwise, like how sharply shades of green can change with the light, and the small details that pick up on the beauty of the reflections in the water.
