Festival of June 30th

When comparing Monet’s The Rue Montorgueil, Festival of 30^th June 1878 to Manet’s The Rue Mosnier with Flag, it is easy to see that Monet’s depiction of the Festival of June 30^th is a much more celebratory, lively one as compared to Manet’s depiction of the event, which is quiet, hot, lonely and a little sad.

These contrasts reflect both artists very different view of the festival and the events that took place before it. While Monet was stepping forward into the future and celebrating reconstruction of France after wartime, Manet, who had served with the National Guard during the Prussian siege, was more reluctant to move on from the past.

            While both paintings represent the same festival and use similar color pallets, Monet’s work is much livelier. We can see that the street is filled with people and the French flag is shown to literally cover the buildings and any available surface. One solitary flag flutters “joyfully” in the wind and the center top of the painting adding to the lively nature of the work.

            Manet shows us a quiet nearly empty street. A crippled veteran is shown at the bottom left corner of the work, a reminder of a painful past in French history. Manet was not so quick to gloss over recent historical events and although the festival was in celebration of restoration, Manet is showing us what was sacrificed in the name of war and independence. He is showing us that celebration of France’s restoration is also celebrating the fact that so many soldiers were killed or left crippled like the man in the painting. It seems as though he feels reflection on recent war events are necessary and that this celebration is covering up what must be addressed.

            Aside from political contrasts, both works are Impressionist and work closely with light. Both are outdoor scenes of modern events and both seem to capture a moment in time.  But while this is the case, Monet’s work is so full of commotion that it’s difficult to understand what is going on in the work. It becomes confusing and all we’re left with is a jumble of red, white and blue. But maybe this is his intent. Festivals and parades can become somewhat overwhelming. However the case, the painting still gives us a sense of joy and celebration. Perhaps he was trying to represent the moment in which we become lost in celebration and become truly immersed in the “now”.

            Manet has toned things down quite a bit. While his brush strokes are still quick and “sketchy”, he clearly shows us an empty street. As the text says “The heat is there, too, in the light reflecting off the walls”.  I don’t think the heat of the scene is supposed to represent a good thing. A hot day would have made labor much more difficult for the workers depicted in the scene, another reminder of those who lost out behind the scenes of the celebration. The French flags are more of a background element. And although very present, they do not command the audiences’ attention like the flags in Monet’s work. Manet has toned down the importance of the celebration to draw our attention clearly to the crippled veteran.