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The Art And Formal Analysis Of Oscar-Claude Monet

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Introduction

The analyzed work was created by French painter Oscar-Claude Monet in 1872. This highly recognized work of art illustrates the morning view of the port of Le Havre in northwestern France. Monet’s masterpiece Soleil Levant also known as Impression Sunrise, gave birth to a new movement, Impressionism, straying away from many traditions, creating a new method of painting–and of seeing the world around us. It is considered to be one of Monet’s most poetic expressions of his engagement with France’s revival after the Franco-Prussian War, and is unlike any other artworks of its time, the subject and techniques achieve to unravel a visual experience and feeling.
Formal Analysis Unlike other styles of painting in the 19th century …show more content…

The most significant aspect of the painting is its tribute to the Impressionist Movement. This painting was hardly recognized when it was first shown to the public in the L’Exposition des Révoltés - the exhibition independent of the Salon, of which was created by Monet himself among other artists - many critics were extremely disapproving of the rebel’s works, especially that of Monet’s. Another significant attribute of the painting is its variety in technique: short, broken brushstrokes that convey loose forms, pure vibrant colors, and of course, an emphasis on the effects of light. In addition to these unaccustomed techniques, the bright colors of Soleil Levant and other Impressionist canvases were shocking for eyes accustomed to the more sombre colors of Academic paintings. Rather than neutral white, grays, and blacks, Impressionists often rendered shadows and highlights in color. Many of the independent artists of this time and movement used more vivid paints and chose not to apply the thick varnish that painters customarily used to tone down their works. The nineteenth century saw the development of synthetic pigments for artists’ paints, providing vibrant shades of blue, green, and yellow that painters had never used before. For instance “Edouard Manet, Boating 1874. Oil on canvas. 97cm x 130cm. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York” highlights a big portion of the scene with a span of cerulean blue. The composition is illustrated as drastically cropped, the modern boater and his companion personify modernity in their form, their subject matter, and the very materials used to paint

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