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| Claude Monet, Impression: Sunrise, 1872 |
Impressionists were unlike those were were scholars in painting and art. Impressionists manipulated their work to depict anything they wanted. Sometimes the art showed something in the foreground in 3-D and the background in 2-D. Sometimes, the art was all in 2-D so the picture can be fully seen as is. Sometimes, even, colors and shapes would blend together so they could make a complete picture. Claude Monet's painting, Impressionism: Sunrise, was part of what many Impressionists used to create their art. Meaning Claude Monet's painting went against what academic painters were taught which was a cleaner non abstract type of art work. Monet's painting (shown above) shows a variety of blues and greens to depict the shadows and the water during sunrise, as well as the paintings color enhancement with the vibrant color of the sun, the sun's reflection, and the sky. Contrary to what many people said about the painting only being a sketch and "not finished" (Art History, 986), this painting creates a full fledged scenery that one can put together but looking at the shapes and colors, as well as the whole scene of the painting.
The painting is made complete with the use of different, yet cohesive colors like oranges, yellows, whites, greens, and blues to create a "fog over the harbor" (Art History, 986). With the colors, many parts of the painting are shown and more focused on. As the colors of the harbor and the fog blend together, the colors of the sun and the rising colors give a focal point for what the viewer should look at first when trying to understand the image. The sun radiates the color orange which also gives it a focal point since that orange color is isolate and surrounded by blue colors. Then showing the vibrant colors of the sky gives the viewers a feel of the sun rays, as it is rising, reflecting off of the clouds. It is with these two starting points the it can be clearly seen that the painting is a sunrise. Then looking at the blues and greens of city line and the water, it can be thought that this is a harbor during the early morning. With Monet's choice of color he brought his viewers to look deeper into the colors to see the painting that laid before them.
The next part of the composition that brings this painting to life is the shapes that are painted. Though the city line (the harbor) is faded with the color, it can still be distinguished by the shapes. In the painting, smoke and chimneys, and boats can all be recognized because of the shape that is most recognizable, and how that shape has a darkness in the color. So even when looking at the painting and trying to figure out what is being shown, the viewer can distinguish smoke, and the outline of maybe factories, and boats. Another part is the shapes are not painted in depth, meaning they are painted in 2-D and not 3-D.Using all 2-D objects within the painting means that the viewer with not bypass the picture as a whole and instead focus on the meaning of the object that is in 3-D because it is different. Having the painting this way make is so objects within the painting do not stand out more then others, and that the painting is seen in its entirety.
Monet's painting has a haze type look of the painting because no clear definitions of faces, or objects can be seen in the painting. Doing this makes the viewer really look at the painting to see what comprises it and makes the painting whole and gives it meaning. Monet was an Impressionist, even the title of the painting above is Impression: Sunrise. the painting was entitled that because this painting makes an impression on those who truly look at the painting and not just glance at it. This painting contributed and was part of redefining what art really was and what it could be. Art is really in the eyes of the beholder, and though many artistic things do not appeal to many, Monet's do. With Monet's use of color and shapes to make the complete picture, his "foggy" appearance leaves all viewers really looking into the painting and to what that painting possibly means to them.
-Dani G
The painting is made complete with the use of different, yet cohesive colors like oranges, yellows, whites, greens, and blues to create a "fog over the harbor" (Art History, 986). With the colors, many parts of the painting are shown and more focused on. As the colors of the harbor and the fog blend together, the colors of the sun and the rising colors give a focal point for what the viewer should look at first when trying to understand the image. The sun radiates the color orange which also gives it a focal point since that orange color is isolate and surrounded by blue colors. Then showing the vibrant colors of the sky gives the viewers a feel of the sun rays, as it is rising, reflecting off of the clouds. It is with these two starting points the it can be clearly seen that the painting is a sunrise. Then looking at the blues and greens of city line and the water, it can be thought that this is a harbor during the early morning. With Monet's choice of color he brought his viewers to look deeper into the colors to see the painting that laid before them.
The next part of the composition that brings this painting to life is the shapes that are painted. Though the city line (the harbor) is faded with the color, it can still be distinguished by the shapes. In the painting, smoke and chimneys, and boats can all be recognized because of the shape that is most recognizable, and how that shape has a darkness in the color. So even when looking at the painting and trying to figure out what is being shown, the viewer can distinguish smoke, and the outline of maybe factories, and boats. Another part is the shapes are not painted in depth, meaning they are painted in 2-D and not 3-D.Using all 2-D objects within the painting means that the viewer with not bypass the picture as a whole and instead focus on the meaning of the object that is in 3-D because it is different. Having the painting this way make is so objects within the painting do not stand out more then others, and that the painting is seen in its entirety.
Monet's painting has a haze type look of the painting because no clear definitions of faces, or objects can be seen in the painting. Doing this makes the viewer really look at the painting to see what comprises it and makes the painting whole and gives it meaning. Monet was an Impressionist, even the title of the painting above is Impression: Sunrise. the painting was entitled that because this painting makes an impression on those who truly look at the painting and not just glance at it. This painting contributed and was part of redefining what art really was and what it could be. Art is really in the eyes of the beholder, and though many artistic things do not appeal to many, Monet's do. With Monet's use of color and shapes to make the complete picture, his "foggy" appearance leaves all viewers really looking into the painting and to what that painting possibly means to them.
-Dani G
You have some nice thoughts. This painting was titled "Impression: Sunrise" because it gives the "impression" of a sunrise through its sketch-like quality. In some ways, we can see how this title (and the subsequent label of "Impressionism") goes against the academic tradition of smooth brushstrokes and illusionism.
ReplyDelete-Prof. Bowen
I also liked what you said! I think it is funny how the term Impression was given to this type of painting to be a put down, however the term was positively turned around. To further this adoption of the word, Monet even named this painting "Impression: Sunrise"
ReplyDeleteHi Dalila! You're close about the title of Monet's painting and the name "Impressionism" as relating to the group of artists. The name of the movement actually came about because of the "Impression: Sunrise" title, not the other way around.
ReplyDelete-Prof. Bowen