The Artist’s Magazine – October 2019

ArtistsNetwork.com 57

and physical stamina were already legendary. His pri-

vate life also had been difficult. His companion, Camille

Doncieux, became pregnant in 1867, and a penniless

Monet was obliged to return to his family for a few

months, unable to be present at the birth of his son.

In 1870, the Franco-Prussian War prompted him to

escape to London, while back in France, his close friend

and supporter, Bazille, was killed in action.

But gradually, Monet’s fortunes began to change.

He met the art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel in London,

a man who was to become Monet’s chief promoter and

financial mainstay. In 1871, with the war over and the

economy improving, the artist began making some

sales and moved to Argenteuil, a short distance up the

Seine from Paris. Finally able to install his family in

a reasonable home, Monet enjoyed a taste of financial

stability for a while.

EXPRESSIVE COLOR AND LIGHT

One of the paintings on view in Denver, Boulevard des

Capucines (opposite), was painted from the same rooms

in which the first Impressionist exhibition was held—

the upper floor of the studio building of Paul Nadar,

the great photographer. Here we find not only the

space and light of the Impressionist world, but also the

movement and bustle of modern urban life. Figures on

the street are achieved with swift blobs and strokes of

IT’SINTHE

ATMOSPHERE

CentraltoMonet’s

approachwasdirect

confrontationwithnature

andthepursuitofthe

effectsoflightand

atmosphere.“Forme,

a landscapedoesnotexist

initsownright,sinceits

appearancechangesat

everymoment,”hesaid,

“butthesurrounding

atmospherebringsit to

life—thelightandtheair

whichvarycontinually.

Forme,it isonlythe

surroundingatmosphere

whichgivessubjectstheir

truevalue.”

ABOVE
Fishing Boats
(Bateaux de Pȇche)
by Claude Monet
1883; oil on canvas;
25¾ x36½
DENVER ART MUSEUM:
FREDERIC C. HAMILTON
COLLECTION, BEQUEATHED
TO THE DENVER ART
MUSEUM

OPPOSITE
Boulevard des
Capucines
by Claude Monet
1873–1874; oil on
canvas, 31⅝ x23¾
THE NELSON-ATKINS
MUSEUM OF ART, KANSAS
CITY, MISSOURI. PURCHASE:
THE KENNETH A. AND
HELEN F. SPENCER
FOUNDATION ACQUISITION
FUND
PHOTO CREDIT:
NELSON-ATKINS MEDIA
SERVICES/JAMISON MILLER