by Aneae Rodriguez
Recently, I went out to Central London to visit a new exhibit at the Royal Academy of Arts- Painting the Modern Garden; Monet to Matisse. The exhibit was a presentation chiefly of impressionist paintings from throughout the 19th and 20th centuries which focused on the subject matter of landscapes, flora and gardens.
Upon arriving I was faced with a somewhat daunting queue to get tickets, which turned out to be a roughly 2 hour wait because apparently I was not the only one who wanted to see the exhibition that day.
Upon arriving I was faced with a somewhat daunting queue to get tickets, which turned out to be a roughly 2 hour wait because apparently I was not the only one who wanted to see the exhibition that day.
The exhibition highlighted the similarities and differences between the styles of famous Impressionist painters- Monet being heavily featured, alongside Manet, Pissarro, Caillebotte, Renoir, Kandinsky and others (surprisingly little Matisse, however). It also gave prominence to the development and progression of Impressionism, chronologically displaying paintings that presented the fluidity and interchangeability of the style's evolution. | |
The painting on the left side of the photo, by Manet, was one that I liked a lot. Manet's manipulation of the textures of the paint helped to bring to life the people and greenery of the scene. I liked the composition and colours- vividly dreamlike, yet realistic, calm yet energetic. I feel that with Impressionism, there needs to be a balance between the omission of detail and the definition of form, and the ability to find that balance is what defines the masters of Impressionism from those who merely followed their precedents. Impressionism focuses on the depiction of light, colour and the passage of time in a way that seems distanced from the scene. However I found that some particular pieces seemed almost unfinished, flat or almost lifeless despite a sense of shading, the colour use seemed to lack finesse, and the application of light awkward or confusing. But maybe that's just me. |
This was a piece that really struck my eye- amidst all the muted greens and blues of the beautiful, but admittedly almost samely, garden landscapes of south France. The pink was bright, almost post-modern, but not offensive to the eye, while the greens and reds were calmer and resulted in an interesting contrast. I found the composition unconventional for an impressionist piece of its time, the subject matter being neither landscape or a woman in a dress, and I must say I very much wanted it printed on a bedspread, with perhaps pillows in black and taupe-grey, a medium grey wallpaper and a lighter, concrete grey accent wall, and a black rug to match the pillows.
A little off topic but anyways...
A little off topic but anyways...
By far the most famous and spectacular piece in the exhibition (so much so that it needed a room to itself) was the impressive triptych by Monet. Starting painting during the First World War, Monet originally planned a 12 piece panoramic instalment, enveloping the viewer in a vast and seemingly unending horizon of water and lilies. However due to circumstance, he could only complete three. Since their completion, the three paintings have never been brought together to be displayed in the same room in the UK, making this an incredible experience.
Monet's water lilies paintings changed the face of Impressionism, as he diverted the focus from the usual- seaside views, garden landscapes, women at picnics in the French countryside- and brought in a new point of view. Instead of the 'onlooker-view', 'splice of life' style that most Impressionists at the time were accustomed to, Monet's water lilies immersed the viewers in a way that made them feel like they were face to face with the lily ponds themselves. The soft lavenders, moss greens, cream and gentle jewel tones of the water were breath-taking, and despite being 75% smaller than initially intended, the 42ft long piece was immensely captivating.
The exhibition is open at the Royal Academy of Arts until April 2016, and I do recommend a visit- even if just for Monet's masterpiece at the end.
Monet's water lilies paintings changed the face of Impressionism, as he diverted the focus from the usual- seaside views, garden landscapes, women at picnics in the French countryside- and brought in a new point of view. Instead of the 'onlooker-view', 'splice of life' style that most Impressionists at the time were accustomed to, Monet's water lilies immersed the viewers in a way that made them feel like they were face to face with the lily ponds themselves. The soft lavenders, moss greens, cream and gentle jewel tones of the water were breath-taking, and despite being 75% smaller than initially intended, the 42ft long piece was immensely captivating.
The exhibition is open at the Royal Academy of Arts until April 2016, and I do recommend a visit- even if just for Monet's masterpiece at the end.