Overview
John House's introduction to Monet's life and work presents a sequence of dazzling illustrations that chart the artist's progress as he became increasingly preoccupied with color and atmospheric effect, and the direct studies of nature gave way to paintings of greater richness and harmony, in which the play of varied colors replaced the conventional drawing and modeling of forms.A beautifully illustrated analysis of the career of Impressionist painter Claude Monet. 150 black-and-white illustrations and 110 color plates.
Synopsis
John House's introduction to Monet's life and work presents a sequence of dazzling illustrations that chart the artist's progress as he became increasingly preoccupied with color and atmospheric effect, and the direct studies of nature gave way to paintings of greater richness and harmony, in which the play of varied colors replaced the conventional drawing and modeling of forms.
Publishers Weekly
House's thorough study of Monet's working methods reveals that the impressionist nature-poet searched in a calculating way for suitable subjects to paint, even relying on travel guides for leads. Though Monet liked to present himself as a solitary hermit, he dominated the Paris art world and kept in touch with writers and artists. For patrons and buyers he would turn out an occasional still life to make a quick sale, and some of these, like Chrysanthemums (1897), were masterpieces. This handsomely illustrated monograph argues that Monet's preoccupation was capturing a scene's essential unifying atmosphere. In quest of this elusive goal, the artist would rework a canvas for months, whether outdoors or in his studio. House demonstrates that impressionism's apparent spontaneity belies its studious craftsmanship. (October 15)