Aaron Fraley

Artist Report: Claude Monet

A. personality: Claude Monet was very self-driven. He was also a perfectionist. It has been said,
that Monet destroyed many of his paintings because he didnt feel they were good enough for the
public. Claude Monet was enlisted in the military for a short time. His short-lived military career,
incubated his tenacious attitude. He enjoyed discovering and exploring new ways to create art.

B. temperament: At the end of his life, he became very withdrawn, began to see less and less
people, and became quite unpredictable. Depression began to overcome his artwork.
Fortunately, the encouragement of family, friends, and fellow artists helped him acquire strength
to complete his work.

C. family life: Claude was born to a grocer in 1840, in the city of Paris, France. At the age of
five, Claude and his family moved to Northern France. He spent much of his time alone, walking
along the beaches and cliffs of Normandy. His love for nature is what moved him to paint many
of his landscapings. In his youth, he would visit Le Louvre often, and watch painters attempt to
copy what they saw in the museum. Instead, he would sit by the window and paint what he saw.
(Mary 1)

D. time period: Monet was among the impressionist leaders of the 1870s and 1880s. There
were many artistic movements during the early nineteenth century and Claude contributed to a

majority of it. Detail and precision were being replaced by generality and inexactness. The time
period was revolutionary. (Anonymous 1)

Describe one work of art that you feel was the most significant piece your artist produced
and in your own words explain why.
Description: I feel that Monets most significant piece of artwork was Impression: Sunrise It
gave the start to impressionism. The story behind this piece involves an art critic who displayed
Monets work, using the word impressionism, meaning to be derogatory. Its basically a sketch,
but in painting form. The only bit of color, comes from the rising sun and its reflection on the
water.
Why: Prior to this, the term had been used in relation to sketches. Sketches were abbreviated,
quick, and spontaneous. Monet was the leader of an artistic rebellion of sketch-like paintings.
(Kleiner 701)
Describe what emotions you feel this painting portrays and explain how the artist used the
Principles and Elements of Design to convey these feelings:
Describe your emotions: The painting portrays a tranquil feeling. Sunrises are naturally relaxing;
thus, the cool colors of the water and gentle warmth of the sun put the viewer at ease. The
redness of the sky keeps the viewer alert. Red sky in the morning, sailors warning.
Describe the Principles and Elements used: His strokes are relaxed and swift. Monet also used
cool and calm colors; all of which depict and help the viewer feel like he or she is in fact,

watching the sun rise over the horizon across the cool ocean bay waters. Monet used the light of
the sun to bring the harbor the harbor to life.
Describe your artists style:
Monet was a very simple artist, with simple style, simple colors, and simple ideas. He wasnt too
concerned with detail, but how light affects color in the atmosphere and climate. Out of all the
impressionists, Monet was the first one to carry the investigation of light and color the furthest.
He did several series of paintings displaying his understanding of how they work together.

Works Cited
Kleiner, Fred S., and Christin J. Mamiya. Gardner's Art through the Ages: The Western
Perspective Volume II. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2006. Print.

"Claude Monet (1840 1926), Artist Who Inspires." Oil Pastels by Mary. N.p., 04 Sept. 2012.
Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

"Claude Monet (18401926) | Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan
Museum of Art." The Met's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2016.

"Art + History Site Database." Art + History Site Database. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2016.