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CompositionHe painted the water lilies in many different lighting and weather conditions. The traditional Renaissance technique of having a focal point in a composition,with the eye being led to this point, through the other elements of the painting, was totally overturned here. |
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The eye is free to go where it will. Whether viewed from a distance or up close, the paintings give a sense of freedom, as if the composition could carry on beyond the edges of the canvas. In "The Clouds" Monet uses a cool blue for the reflection of the sky , highlighted by white, yellow, pink and purple cloud effects, painted over the blue. It expresses the movement of clouds reflected on water. The colour is diffused by the light in many different pale colours. This creates the effect of light sparkling and dancing on the water. Even the shadowy areas at the edges contain highlights of colour, dark green, blue and purple tones caused by the reflection of the light from the centre of the panel, with almost complimentary touches of red at one side. In another painting of water lilies we see the boldness, the freedom of his brush strokes in a different colour tone, on a flat surface of dark green. The background colour helps to highlight the soft flat texture of the foliage and the thick impasto of the flowers with white mixed with yellow and pink, outlined in red. In this, as in many of the water lily paintings, the main colours are green and mauve. Another painting shows the Japanese bridge over Monets water garden.The man made structure of the bridge is combined harmoniously with the abundance of nature all around. In this single painting there is ample evidence of his years of experience with different brush strokes, and his use of colour tone. What Monet tried to express is not so much the subject, eg. trees and flowers, but the air and light which is constantly changing and is reflected back from the surface of the water. Back to top | |