Impressionists are often considered to be forgetful artists because of their light, fast, in the moment technique, choosing to highlight color, movement and the moment rather than focus on the past tragedies. In order to look toward the future and put past wars, grief and loss behind them, many Impressionist artists worked in the moment, plein-aire, to capture people going about their normal lives after the wars the people of France endured. During this time, artists were shying away from extreme political radicalism in their work because of Courbet's destruction of the Place Vendome, a Classically inspired column which symbolism war and conquest. Courbet wanted people to not think of war and destruction but to think of advancement and works with real artistic value, since he was not a fan of Classicism. While this act of destruction could be seen as an artistic act of avant-gardism, it is important to remember that avant garde art was politically radical, artistically radical, or sometimes both.
Artists like Renior and Monet worked to create beauty and capture the lovely light and movement of a fleeting moment, which because of the wars they had been through, they knew was all too fleeting. Renoir's Pont Nuef, Paris, 1872 shows a lovely blue sky with fluffy white cloud floating in the sky, women strolling with their parasols and children in tow, though one is wearing all black which might allude to her loss in the war(s). Renoir's painting successfully allows most people to forget that the French had just gone through such trying times, but there are other allusions to tragedy, loss and remembering the price of "bourgeoisification" (Bowen, lecture), like the tri-color flag hanging on the lower right side of the painting. This flag was treasured by the people as a symbol of the revolution against the Bourbon dynasty, allowing people to remember all that their families worked hard to protect.
Although most IMpressionists choose to celebrate life and forget the destruction of the past, the artist Meissonier depicted the Ruins of the Tuileres, May 1871 as a reminder of the past, but the work in the far distance shows that he was also looking toward a unified and put-together future. It is interesting to notice that Monet also painted The Tuileries in 1876 (The Tuileres), depicting the lush and lovely gardens with people strolling along the lovely walkways, trees in full leaf and some perhaps even in bloom, the sun reflects softly off the water of a slow fountain and we have a beautiful picture of the city, which we know from Meissonier's work, was destroyed. It seems that Monet really just wants to forget the destruction and focus on the beauty, while Meissonier wants to acknowledge both sides of the coin.
Monet seems to be guilty of showing only what he wants because he also painted a railway bridge, The Railway Bridge at Argentuil in 1874 that is intact and doesn't seem to have ever been not standing. An anonymous artist photographed the same bridge in 1870 showing it destroyed, looking quite unlike the Monet painting. Monet seems to be glossing over the history of this bridge, but it's impossible to tell if he really knew the history of it or not. Though, perhaps because he knew that is why he painted it the way he did.
Impressionists perhaps get a bad rap for being 'forgetful' of the past, but really they just wanted to experience their lives on their own terms. They wanted an escape from the dreary war torn country they had been experiencing for so long. It was time for them to paint something beautiful and capture fleeting moments of loveliness in everyday occurances.
Artists like Renior and Monet worked to create beauty and capture the lovely light and movement of a fleeting moment, which because of the wars they had been through, they knew was all too fleeting. Renoir's Pont Nuef, Paris, 1872 shows a lovely blue sky with fluffy white cloud floating in the sky, women strolling with their parasols and children in tow, though one is wearing all black which might allude to her loss in the war(s). Renoir's painting successfully allows most people to forget that the French had just gone through such trying times, but there are other allusions to tragedy, loss and remembering the price of "bourgeoisification" (Bowen, lecture), like the tri-color flag hanging on the lower right side of the painting. This flag was treasured by the people as a symbol of the revolution against the Bourbon dynasty, allowing people to remember all that their families worked hard to protect.
Although most IMpressionists choose to celebrate life and forget the destruction of the past, the artist Meissonier depicted the Ruins of the Tuileres, May 1871 as a reminder of the past, but the work in the far distance shows that he was also looking toward a unified and put-together future. It is interesting to notice that Monet also painted The Tuileries in 1876 (The Tuileres), depicting the lush and lovely gardens with people strolling along the lovely walkways, trees in full leaf and some perhaps even in bloom, the sun reflects softly off the water of a slow fountain and we have a beautiful picture of the city, which we know from Meissonier's work, was destroyed. It seems that Monet really just wants to forget the destruction and focus on the beauty, while Meissonier wants to acknowledge both sides of the coin.
Monet seems to be guilty of showing only what he wants because he also painted a railway bridge, The Railway Bridge at Argentuil in 1874 that is intact and doesn't seem to have ever been not standing. An anonymous artist photographed the same bridge in 1870 showing it destroyed, looking quite unlike the Monet painting. Monet seems to be glossing over the history of this bridge, but it's impossible to tell if he really knew the history of it or not. Though, perhaps because he knew that is why he painted it the way he did.
Impressionists perhaps get a bad rap for being 'forgetful' of the past, but really they just wanted to experience their lives on their own terms. They wanted an escape from the dreary war torn country they had been experiencing for so long. It was time for them to paint something beautiful and capture fleeting moments of loveliness in everyday occurances.
I like that you built up historical context by discussing Courbet and the destruction of the Place Vendôme column. It's important to realize that the Impressionists were consciously trying to "forget" politics and the horrors of war.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting to consider how much destruction and suffering took place in French history at this time? I think today people usually think of Impressionist paintings as being quite cheerful, almost to the point that the subject matter seems superficial. What most people don't realize, though, is that the Impressionists were intentionally being superficial. They didn't want to acknowledge the suffering around them.
-Prof. Bowen
I like to think that Monet did know about the bridge and it's destruction during the war. By painting it he is aknowledging that an important event occurred at that location, but that the destruction of what was once there has healed and rebuilt. I think it can be used as an allegory for the healing of the French people and their desire to look to a brighter future. I think it is a great example of Impressionists artists showing the present life, showing modernity, and looking to the future while making a subtle reference to the past. While making that reference to the past, he is careful to put it in a positive light so people don't dwell on what happened, but instead on the positive changes that were occurring.
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