96 Artists Magazine April 2020Lasting impression
If ever an artist lived an existence thatfollowedhisunique
design,it wasClaudeMonet[French,1840-1926].Thispassionategardener
fulfi lledhisunsurpassedvisioninmagnificentscalewiththeexecutionofa series
of monumentalwaterlilypaintings—workthatthisFatherofImpressionism
wouldeventuallygifttohishomecountry.WaterLilyPond, althoughnot as
largeasotherworkintheseries,communicatesserenity,thoughpainted
duringa timeofworldwar.ThetextureofMonet’sfluidimpastogestures
signifyfloatingblossomsandimplytheunderlyingpondfaunainhorizontal
infinity.Asa gratefulvoyagerpermittedtopaintinthesolitudeof
Monet’sbelovedgardens,I’veseenthelavenderskyandheardthe
songsofpondlife—profoundsensationsofanenduringsenseofplace.
MARCIA HOLMES
Master Pastelist and Signature Member, Pastel Society of AmericaWater Lily Pond
by Claude Monet
ca 1917/19; oil on canvas, 51½x79½
THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO