The Seine River in Paris flows through Giverny, where Monet lived, and continues to Le Havre. Monet often took walks along the Seine. Near Giverny, there was a charming village called Limetz, nestled by the winding Seine. Along the riverbank, beautiful rows of poplar trees grew.
**Poplar Tree Series**
Poplars at Giverny (1887)
In 1890, when Monet was 50 years old, he endeavored to capture not just moments of light but the passage of time itself. He painted the same scenes at different times of the day—morning, noon, and evening—as well as different seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter. This effort resulted in many series paintings from this period.
Poplar (1891)
While painting the poplar trees along the Seine's bank in Limetz, Monet noticed red ribbons tied to the trees. He learned that the poplar trees were up for auction and would be cut down. Determined to save them, Monet tracked down the bidders and paid them to delay the tree cutting for a year. Thus, the Poplar Tree series was born.
**Grainstack Series**
Giverny, situated on a hill next to the Seine, was a sunny village. After the harvest, grainstacks were left in the fields, creating an excellent subject for Monet's paintings. These large grainstacks provided a dynamic model for his work, which could otherwise have seemed monotonous. Monet painted the grainstacks rapidly and spontaneously, capturing their appearance at different times and seasons. Though the paintings were often small and less detailed, they vividly conveyed the momentary essence of the scene.
Grainstacks at Giverny, Morning effect (1889)
Grainstacks at Giverny, Sunset (1889)
Grainstacks in the Sunlight (1890)
Wheatstacks, snow effect, morning (1891)
**Rouen Cathedral Series**
About 50 kilometers from Giverny stands Rouen Cathedral. Seeking a model for a solo exhibition, Monet was recommended to paint the cathedral. However, he did not anticipate how challenging this task would be.
For over two years, Monet painted the cathedral, never satisfied with the results. He painted it in various conditions—shrouded in morning mist, before the evening sun, in darkness, and more. Despite years of effort, Monet was still not content with his work. Considering abandoning the project, he eventually decided to exhibit 20 paintings of the cathedral in his solo show. Perhaps he had no other works to display at the time.
Surprisingly, Monet, by then already a renowned artist, found that any work he presented was deemed significant. The adage "interpretation is better than the dream" proved true in his case.
1892-1894 Rouen Cathedral (fog, sunset, clear day, morning..)
These series paintings fetched a considerable sum during Monet's lifetime and became some of his most celebrated works.
2024.07.03
