Through the Willow

January 21, 2010

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Walking around Monet’s pond in summertime gives a strange feeling of deja vu.

This place especially, where the long branches of three big weeping willows reach the surface of the pond, offering views on to the blooming water lilies, looks familiar.

Claude Monet loved this spot that he painted over and over again, and that is even featured on the huge Grandes Decorations at l’Orangerie.

 The vertical lines mixed with the floating water lilies and the reflections on the surface of the pond challenged his command of perspective.

Weeping Willow

June 5, 2008

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Monet was keen on painting through the weeping willow. It was difficult, and he liked the challenge.

There was the vertical axis of the branches and the horizontal axis of the floating water lilies.

In addition, the reflection of the sky looks like a hole in the water.

And Monet could even see the stems of the flowers under the surface.

When he painted here, he had to mix all the different plans to put them on the two dimensional canvas.

April in Monet’s garden

April 27, 2008

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Spring has come suddenly. It was warm and sunny today, and the sunshine enhanced the bright colors of Monet’s flower garden.

In the water garden the azaleas are in full bloom. On the trees the little leaves look tender and fresh.

April light has a special quality, a sort of sparkling effect that can be noticed on Monet’s footbridge seen into backlight.