To help with my artwork, I decided to look at some work by known artists. I wanted to build knowledge of ways that other artists tackle natural forms, scenes from nature and the countryside. I decided to look at the work by Claude Monet, ‘Le Bassin Des Nympheas’ (Bridge over a pool of water lilies), and Gustav Klimt’s ‘Unterach Am Attersee’ (Unterach on the lake Atter).
My main reason for looking at Monet and Klimt in particular is that I know of both artists and like their work. I have personal links with Austria, and as Klimt is Austrian, I find it of interest to study him.
To fully understand the pieces, I decided to look into the artists history, to discover under what circumstances their works were created. I believe that when a true artists paints a picture, some of his or her personality goes into it.
Monet was born in the year of 1840 in Paris, France. When he was 16, his mother Louise Monet died. The following year he met Eugene Boudin, who encouraged Monet in his painting, particularly outdoor and natural art. When Monet was 26, his first son was born, Jean Monet. In 1868, Monet tried to comit suicide, the reasons are still unknown. Monet’s second son Michel was born in 1878. In 1907 Monet began to experience problems with his eyesight. Seven years on, Jean, Monet’s eldest son died. From 1916 to 1926, Monet worked on the water lilies series. They were displayed in the museum of the ‘Orangey’ in Paris. During the time when he painted the water lilies, Monet was nearly blind, and had an operation to remove the cataract in one eye which did improve his sight. Monet painted right until the end in 1926 when he was struck by lung cancer. He was buried in a simple ceremony in a cemetery in Giverny. Finding this history of Monet made me fully realise how difficult Monet’s life must have been. I wonder if perhaps his painting was a form of escapism – many people use art, sport etc. to get away from their problems in life.
