Monet, hailed as the “father of Impressionism,” excelled in portraying light and shadow, creating the non-objective aesthetic of Impressionism. Under the natural light of different seasons, Monet depicted landscapes and still lifes with constantly changing colors, creating many delicate and beautiful oil paintings. Even a century apart, his influence continues to this day, attracting countless people to admire Impressionist works.
Recently, Sotheby’s announced that they will present 5 Monet paintings at the London Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction in March, showcasing his transition from an Impressionist painter to the father of Abstract Expressionism!
The works include a variety of chrysanthemum paintings, foreshadowing Monet’s famous later water lily paintings, reflecting the artist’s fascination with Japan; moving on to the masterpieces of grain stacks painted in a loose and meticulous style, as well as landscape paintings depicting different seasons and weather conditions. All works were created before 1900, elegantly showcasing Monet’s modern spirit and profound influence on future artists and art trends.
This is one of Monet’s four chrysanthemum still life paintings created in 1897, which also influenced the artist’s “Water Lilies” series. In terms of composition, the chrysanthemums occupy the entire canvas, with the complete flower composition cut off by the edges, a departure from the traditional still life paintings of the time. Monet was fond of Japanese art and had a collection of prints by the Japanese master Katsushika Hokusai, known for his “Large Flowers” print series where he depicted flowers without backgrounds. Therefore, experts believe that the composition of this painting was inspired by him.
“The Peach and Apricot Trees” was painted between 1882 and 1885, when Monet’s works began to attract a wider audience and gained increasing attention.
This work is themed around haystacks, and although the group of haystacks in the painting may appear looser in structure compared to a complete stack of hay, it is one of the most recognizable classic themes in Monet’s work. Monet created the renowned Haystack series between 1890 and 1891, and returned to this theme a few years later, with distinct layers and fullness, showcasing his exquisite drawing skills.
This painting witnesses Monet gradually entering the world of water lilies at the beginning of the 20th century. During the period from the end of 1892 to January 1893, the Seine River was hit hard by frost and snow. This work captures the scene of floating ice on the river, reminiscent of the blooming flowers in the water lily works, which Monet would begin creating several years later.
This painting was created in 1897 as part of a series depicting the Normandy coast. The dynamic brushstrokes capture the essence of the natural world, revealing Monet’s earliest foray into abstraction.
The above 5 works will be exhibited in Hong Kong from February 8 to 9, don’t miss it!
Learn more and image source: Sotheby’s
