“Impressionism as a technique devoted to capturing the effects of light out of doors is exemplified most purely in the painting of Claude Monet, who forced it to its limits, and then beyond.” John Canaday

Recognizing the stylistic differences amongst the painters who since 1874 when they were first ridiculed by critics as “Impressionists”, was a daunting task to me as a young art major. All those pastel colored landscapes with women drifting through them in gauzy white dresses- honestly, my first response was, “Who cares?” But, I did come to care, and be excited about the aesthetic perseverance of those whom I regard as the “heavy-hitters” of this loosely associated group. I love a world that has in it Degas’ drawings, Mary Cassatt’s aqua-tints, Seurat’s drawings (NEO-impressionist that he was), and Monet’s water-lilies.

Water Lilies, Claude Monet

Created at Giverny, the home that he purchased with the proceeds from his first successful sale, the water lily paintings are the culmination of a lifetime’s work. Monet’s subject dissolves as the rhythm of color and light transcend the notion of a “picture of something”. Art historian, John Canaday, likens these late works of Monet to Jackson Pollock’s drip paintings. At first, I was struck by the cheekiness of this comparison of an Impressionist’s works to those of the mythic giant of Abstract Expressionism, but I think it’s simply brilliant- like Pollock’s drip paintings, the edges of the water-lily paintings seem arbitrary, as if image extends beyond them. Likewise, the drama of these pieces lies in their grand scale and the bravura of their execution.

Convergence, Jackson Pollock

As a place that inspired Monet’s tireless examination of light, color, form, and rhythm, Giverny has become a destination for tourists to see what he saw. Sharon Burns Knutson did just that. She also drew what she saw. Leafing through her oil pastels of this legendary site, I was entranced by her personal vision, sensitivity, and industry. Few artists I know go on vacation and get more work done than this mighty, little woman! It was also a pleasure to be reminded of the breath-taking scope of another artist’s creative power- especially when that artist’s work has seemed too easily pigeon-holed by passing time.

Oil crayon on black paper, Sharon Burns-Knutson

Hope you’ll stop by!