As an artist, Impressionist works, especially those of Claude Monet,
intrigued me this quarter. His use of light is inspirational as well as
educational as I can reference his work to see, for example, what sunlight
might look like in a specific sort of setting. The use of light in work such as
On the Banks of the Seine, Bennecourt,
is one of the reasons I enjoyed studying Monet’s work so much.
The way sunlight is reflected off of surfaces is very well achieved in On The Banks. The bold ultra saturated
colors in the background and on the water give the impression that it is a
cloudless, hot and vibrant day. It reminds me of the bright green of the grass
on a summer day. Perhaps Monet was thinking the same when he added a small
clump of bright green in the lower left of the painting. His goal to make art that is just nice
to look at is very much achieved by reminding us of the way sunlight works in
nice weather.
Monet’s use of broken brush strokes help me to remind myself to relax
when I’m painting or drawing. Often times, I will become overwhelmed with a
visual idea that I love so much that I just want to get it onto paper or canvas
as quickly as possible. But when I do this I don’t paint or draw as well as I’m
capable of. I haven’t taken the time to “warm up” and let myself freely work. I
freeze and become frustrated and uninspired. Monet’s work reminds me to let go
of mastering the idea right away and to physically warm up to get my artist
skills going and to not focus on creating a masterpiece every time I pick up a
brush. Monet’s work is a good example that beautiful works can be made through
quick, freely moving technique. This technique also very therapeutic and
relaxing.
A second work that I really enjoy is Fountain by Marcel Duchamp. While
not an extravagant painting or a crafted work, Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain has
always been a favorite of mine. Of course it isn’t the physical object itself
(urinal), but the meaning behind Duchamp’s actions both before and after Fountain was entered and reject from the “Forum” exhibition in which no work
was to be rejected. He plays off the whole thing like he is sincerely shocked that his work did not get into the exhibition. Through humor, attitude and sarcasm
Duchamp totally challenges people to think about what “art” actually means.
Duchamp teaches us that art can be “primarily conceptual”. He proves his point through Fountain which is a concept achieved through humor and a tool in which to
prove a concept.
