Light and Oscar Claude Monet

First light as mentioned in Genesis then Isaiah and Revelations an interesting journey of its own. Then secondly a visit we made yesterday to the National Gallery London and then in the evening Roy and I were in the audience of the Charing Cross Theatre for a musical ‘A Mirrored Monet’.

Let us travel first with Genesis 1:3-4. Moses is writing:

‘ And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light and it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.’

Then let us look at John writing in the last book of the Bible Revelations 21: 23-27 (My summary.)

‘ And the city had no need of the sun, neither the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God lights it and the Lamb ( Jesus). The nations that are saved will walk in the light… the gates won’t be shut and nothing that ruins purity/ defiles or is an abomination or is a lie will enter but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.’

It is said that Monet was an atheist but his capture of light helps me feel God is very close. Is it possible that this art speaks the language understood by the viewer?

You are welcome to be with us as we enjoy three of Oscar Claude Monet’s paintings in the National Gallery London.

Monet regarded these large-scale, close up views of the surface of his water-lily pond as decorations.

Here the detail of colour and light can be enjoyed as I stood really close.

Then the second photograph is from a distance taking in the whole. This is what he wanted from his paintings for the viewer: ‘ a refuge of peaceful meditation for those with nerves exhausted by work could relax, following the example of those still waters.’

The Water Lilies Series is considered Monet’s masterpiece. Two hundred and fifty paintings during the last 30 years of his life. Most of these paintings were done while he struggled with cataracts.

Let us look at Water Lilies 1917 painted alongside the one above.

Here the information board on this painting helps one to understand that the sky and bank are included largely as reflections on the water’s surface with the leaves forming an abstract pattern in blue and purple. Three creamy – yellow Water Lilies are then highlights.

Creamy-yellow water lily.

The whole

Detail of colour in brushstrokes.

Then there was this: Water Liles Setting sun about 1907.

Here the information board describes the lilies as gliding over reflections of willow trees in the blazing evening sun, creating an interplay between surface and depth.

Only the tufts of plants added later at the bottom left orient the viewer on the bank.

It was later that evening while watching the theatre musical production of ‘ A Mirrored Monet’ that we realised how difficult it was for Monet to cope with creative block and complete the paintings of Water Lilies.

My eyes filled with tears.

Why ?

Monet as the elderly artist, played by Jeff Shankley and the young Monet played by Dean John – Wilson are mostly both on the stage together. The past and our present. A meeting of time showing the frustration of the present expectation of creativity and the pain of past memory where deep love for his muse Camille, and his devotion to work, and less success as a painter play out in tensions between the couple with the need for money to live.

The stage is simple with lighting and a circular moving platform helping to focus on past and present. Clarity of voice and empathetic music and words carry time past seen differently than when young. A thought that family should have been more important than painting make for creative block.

It brought tears to my eyes. Reflecting on the past often can. And this did it well. I appreciate how well this was done.

Yes, Camille dies. She is only 32. She had contracted tuberculosis but uterine cancer was the final cause of death. This is not explicit in the musical nor is the fact that he painted her on her deathbed. However, what is clear is she was a most important model and muse enabling him to become well known as a painter. He finds inspiration once again to complete the Water Lilies by taking comfort that it was her he painted. His visit to all his paintings of her safely in the ‘attic’ confirms this.

Not in the musical is the fact that he later marries a lady who had six children of her own and with his two boys there were eight. He does say in the musical that what he valued in her was her deep kindness. Monet died in his eighties of lung cancer.

Time well spent!

Take care,

Sandy 🙂

Ps

I had looked at my post ‘ Le Crotoy in/on the Bay of Somme’ to get the name of Paul Signac but there were none of his paintings hanging in the National Gallery. I was sorry about that.