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Analysis of Claude Monet’s Impression, Sunrise
Introduction
The goodness of an artwork is never measured by how much it resembles a photograph but rather how best its composition is in terms of its structural arrangement: one such painting id the Impression, Sunrise by Monet. For decades, Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet, has been viewed as the Impressionists Movement quintessential symbol. The painting describes the pool of Havre in north-western France during the revitalization efforts by France after the war of Franco-Prussian. Contrary to other works of art, the specific technique of painting, and the subject matter presented by impression, Sunrise is a transcription of the feeling created by a scene and not the rendering of a landscape’s particular details (Jamie). This essay will analyze Claude Monet’s Impression, Sunrise paintwork to bring to an understanding of how this renowned painter used the essential elements of painting such as line, space, shape, texture, and color to express an individual’s perception of nature as a vital characteristic and as the central motif (Tucker 23).
Paint Description and Subject
The Impression, Sunrise by Monet, is an oil on canvas type of painting measuring 48 cm by 63 cm. The painting was finalized by Monet around 1872 and is currently owned by the Musee Marmottan in Paris, France. The painting depicts the port of Le Havre during the morning sunrise, in the foreground, are two small boats. The middle ground is occupied by several other fishing boats. The background comprises of clipper ships on the left. These ships have very tall masts. On the right background, are a myriad of chimneys and masts silhouetted against the sky. The Salient object of this painting is the sed Sun (Tucker). The picture contains no depiction of houses on the left side of the jetty, and this was a strategic elimination by the painter to show the features of the industry by leaving the background unobscured. This painting was inspired by the beauty of the revitalization of the country after the war. The port of Le Havre, which was a center of commerce and industry, represented the renewed beauty and strength of France (Tucker).
Paint Analysis
Space and Color: Space in photography is a three-dimensional element that describes how best the artist uses the area within the picture to create a feeling while color defines the mood, the energy, the emotions created by painting (Belt 2). In impression, sunrise, the painter draws the attention of the audience to the salient object, the sun through the use of noticeable bright colors in the painting. Moreover, even though the landscape is hazy, it is possible to find numerous vertical elements. For instance, the smokestacks filling the atmosphere from the steamboat can easily be noticed, a four-masted clipper ship can be observed to the left of the canvas (Levine 33). At the right of the canvas, the audience can identify the heavy machinery, among other elements. The painter, in this instance, uses color to bring out the elements of “seduction and beauty.” Monet employs color harmony to capture the atmospheric effects and a particular moment a time through the use of heightened color and brushwork, which attract the attention of the viewers. According to him, if a painter employs the use of the strategy of “exact color and shape,” the desired impression of the scene is achievable. The different color tones are also achieved by the technique called pigment mixture by Monet (Monet 27). Further, Monet has applied te use of color distinctively; he places them side by side, making it possible for the viewer to mix them with their eyes. The painter also put more emphasis on natural ambiance, to achieve this phenomenon, Monet used lead white in combination with other pigments.
This paintwork combines primarily dull, cool colors with greys and blues within the painting, the work is also inclusive of warm-color splashes noticeable in the red-orange sun as well as the sky. Through these representations, Monet ensures the imagery of his painting focuses on the calm sensation of a misty seascape (Barnes 20).
Line and Shape: In photography, a line describes the single-dimensional identifiable path created by a moving space. The line varies in terms of length, direction, and width. These are responsible for leading the eyes of the viewer around the at work communicating the message presented by the painting. The shape, on the other hand, is the multidimensional definition of an object in space; it defines the lines (Belt 4). In Impression, sunrise, the painter uses lines to presents two indistinctive figures in a small rowboat floating in the bay. He also presented the rising sun of the early morning over the harbor. The place is full of activities with boats and ships at the port. The water surface reveals not only the reflection of the rays of the sun but the shadows of the boats and the figures (Humbert 8). Monet has achieved this aspect through the thick and short visible brushstrokes observable canvas to capture the object essence. The natural phenomenons like the sun have been displayed using round lines while the artificial figures like the boats have been displayed primarily using the vertical and horizontal lines. For instance, he uses visible brushstrokes in the water to create a sense of rhythm, creating the feelings created by the motion in the sea (Qiu 41). The painter has used the negative space appropriately to create a feeling of togetherness rather than isolation. The use of line and space has also contributed to the impressionist style fronted by Monet (Jamie 21).
Conclusion
Impression, sunlight, is therefore described as one of the best representations of the essential patterns and structure of the artwork subject, creating and maintaining the required imagination using the essential elements of the art of line, shape, color, and space. The painter, therefore, has been able to emphasize space and nature through meaningful designs within the apparent casual scene. As such, the Impression, Sunrise, can be described as one of the best ways in which Monet transformed an outdoor painting into a finished masterpiece creating positive energy while drawing the attention of the viewer.
Cited Work
Belt, Angela Faris. The elements of photography: Understanding and creating sophisticated images. Focal Press, 2012.
Jamie, Yurasits. Analysis of Claude Monet’s Impression, Sunrise. Incite, Journal of Scholarship. 2019. https://blogs.longwood.edu/incite/2012/01/30/analysis-of-claude-monet%E2%80%99s-impression-sunrise/
Barnes, Rachel. Monet by Monet. Webb & Bower, 1990.
Humbert, Marc. “Impression, sunset.” (2013): 1098-1100.
Levine, Steven Z. Claude Monet. Vol. 1. Rizzoli International Publications, 1994.
Monet, Claude. Impression Sunrise. Athena International, 1976.
Qiu, Jingwen. “Impressionism and Experimental Creation Analysis of Impressionism to Contemporary Ink Painting.” International Journal of Social Sciences in Universities: 27.
Tucker, Paul H. Claude Monet: Life and Art. New Haven: Yale UP, 1995. Print.
Appendix
Figure 1: Impression, Sunrise Painting
Artist: Claude Monet
Title: Impression, Sunrise
Bate: 1872
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimmenssions: 48 cm (18.8‘) by 63 cm (24.8”)