A couple of months ago I was lucky enough to see one of Claude Monet’s water lily paintings, The Water-Lily Pond (1899), at the York Art Gallery. I wanted to share my experience and how it has inspired one of my own paintings. This blog follows on from my York blog: “The York Sketches – Illustrations of my Mini Culture Trip to York” where I said I would need separate posts on my Monet and Van Gogh experiences! I’ll focus on Van Gogh at a later time, promise!
The Monet exhibition
Actually, I thought the whole ‘Monet in York’ exhibition was staged excellently.
The exhibition space took visitors through various rooms. Firstly, introducing us to the artists, paintings, and developments that preceded Monet’s Water-Lily Pond painting. So we learn about the rise in popularity of plein air painting (painting outside), and the School of Barbizon that promoted this way of working.
I saw paintings by other artists to add to my growing list of “painters I want to learn more about”. In this first stage of the exhibition we see works by Valenciennes, Michallon, Corot, Daubigny, Guillemet… the list goes on.
Japanese prints
Next we learn about Monet’s fascination with Japanese woodblock prints that had become wildly available in the Parisian shops at the time. In particular, Monet studied works by Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige.
This was something I didn’t know about Monet, and so at first I was slightly bemused to find myself in a room full of these Japanese woodblock prints. But after pouring over each one and their explanations as to how they influenced certain works by Monet I could totally see it. 100%. It was like “well, obviously they influenced his paintings!”. And of course, the connection to his beloved Japanese inspired garden made complete sense.
These Japanese prints have an unexplainable charm after you’ve stared at them for long enough. This is definitely something I want to circle back on – I’m thinking I’ll maybe create some art in the same style. However I’m just going to put a pin in that, I might revisit when I look at Van Gogh next time – they are relevant for him too!
The Water-Lily Pond
As I approached the door leading away from the Japanese prints room, I immediately sensed a change in energy.
There was a low murmur of voices – a low murmur that was somehow quieter than the silence of the first two rooms.
My neck hairs stood on end. My throat knotted up. I was clearly on the verge of some strange crisis. What to do?
Something good was coming up.
I decided to be acutely present.
I focused on the tingly pulsing rush of blood through my veins for a few moments. Then I peeked in through the doorway, ever so softly.
And there it was.
Illuminated to perfection in the dimly lit room. Dominating the space with its smallness.
The Water-Lily Pond.
* * *
You know that buzz you get just before seeing a live production or musical performance? Those magical few seconds that last forever when the house lights go down but the curtains are yet to open.
Well, that.
That indescribable electric blue atmosphere.
I had clearly underestimated the emotional response I would have.
The room with The Water-Lily Pond (1899)
The Water-Lily Pond was accompanied by other paintings from Monet’s various mentors (Boudin, Pisarro…), and the contemporaries he had inspired (Bonnard, Conder…). Again, more for my list of “painters I want to learn more about”.
I forced myself to absorb these paintings first.
And then I spent some serious quality time with Monet.
All the while, trying to stay in the present moment, just taking it all in. So close to greatness! I could have spent the whole day looking at it, and that’s no overstatement.
Monet study
Whenever I go to an art gallery, it makes me want to get my paints out. And so obviously, this is how I felt after leaving York Art Gallery.
I had my watercolours with me so that was good. But there’s nothing like being back home in front of an easel with my trusty acrylics.
But what to paint?
Well, how about a study of the Water-Lily Pond painting itself. As a homage to (genius) Monet, but in my own (less than genius) style.
If you’ve read some of my other blogs (welcome back, by the way) then you’ll know I like to play a little colour game. If you’re new to my blog, welcome! Basically, I stare at a famous painting by one of the greats, and pick out the ‘top ten’ colours. Or at least, the ten that jump out at me the most. And then I try to mix them up myself. So here is the colour swatch of Monet’s The Water-Lily Pond:
It’s hard not to get swept away in all the greens, but there are other gems in there too. In fact, I bet he’s got the whole colour wheel hidden in there. Aside from the greens, I’m particularly drawn to the cream and crimson water lilies in the pond, they’re punchy. Which is just as well, I suppose.
(The York Art Gallery had an interactive digital screen where visitors could zoom right in to inspect the brush strokes and colours – I monopolised that for a while…).
After picking out the top ten colours, I couldn’t resist blocking out the rough geography of the artwork on a small scale. So here is my very quick, loose paint sketch of Monet’s masterpiece:
Inspired by Monet
I thought about how Monet was inspired by his garden. Then I thought about how I am also inspired by my garden. And I thought it would be interesting to pick up a round brush and a different colour palette and just see what happened.
Just for fun:
Ok, so it’s far from perfect but the colours are happy and vibrant. And while technically there’s much to improve on, I feel like it conveys how much I love my flowers.
It is a much less refined colour palette than those used by Monet, however I do wonder what the Impressionist artists would have done with today’s modern acrylic colours.
That’s all I have for now, loyal readers. I will definitely be back soon to recount my Van Gogh experience.
Until then (and in fact always), take care, stay safe.