The Observer, April 13, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 24
Monet exhibit illuminates master's life, influential work
There are some artists, regardless of media, who are simply respected. They have proven themselves as easily recognizable professionals, and their work transcends to a higher level, unquestioned in its mastery. Rarely, however, do most people step back from the big picture and focus on just a small facet of an artist's career. The Cleveland Museum of Art's (CMA) latest exhibit, Monet in Normandy, does just that, to great success.
The exhibit is a peek into the life of Claude Monet, one of the most famous Impressionist painters, but not in the typical light. The 50-work exhibit consists solely of paintings whose subject is some aspect of the landscape of Normandy. The works date from across Monet's long career as early as 1867 to as late as 1926. The show is exceptional, offering a deeper look into an artist who is sometimes only remembered for his exquisite water lilies.
Monet may be famous for Impressionism – a style of art that uses small detailed brush strokes and captures a glance at an object, not necessarily in a large amount of detail – but most people are not aware that he did much more in his early years. In fact, "Garden at Sainte-Adresse," painted in 1867, portrays a small garden scene in which almost everything is done with exceptional attention to detail. People are the focus of this work as well, showing a sharp contrast to Monet's later works, where people, if even included, are only an afterthought to the gorgeous natural landscapes.
Besides revealing unknowns about Monet's early years, the exhibit functions as a wonderful overview of Monet's career as a whole. The exhibit seems at face value to be very restrictive, including only very specific paintings but because Normandy was such a common theme in Monet's work, most of his career periods are represented. Just walking through the multiple rooms, one can see the subtle changes from work to work, including his gradual transformation from detail to impression.
The exhibit is also not made up of completely unknown works. It has its fair share of slightly more unknowns, but there are also some standouts, giving the exhibit multiple dimensions. "Road at La Cavée, Pourville," completed in 1882, has an unbelievable sense of depth to it. It feels as though upon leaning too close, one could simply tumble into the painting, down the exquisite hills into the beautiful blue-green ocean in the distance.
The series of three paintings known as "The Manneporte (Étretat)" all display the same natural rock feature on the Normandy coast, yet each is drastically different. Monet's skill at capturing the effect of light is almost unbelievable, as he managed to capture three different times of day, all on the same object.
Monet may be a master, but most people know little about his early years. One trip to CMA's new exhibit will change all that, and the viewer cannot help but to be enlightened and awestruck.
Free for all Case students (a valid student ID must be presented upon entry), Monet in Normandy is open until May 20. The Cleveland Museum of Art is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The museum is closed on Mondays.
