The oil on canvas “Rocks at Belle -Isle” by Claude Monet is currently featured in the online catalog in the Art Institute of Chicago. The Institute keeps on featuring different artists time to time displaying a variety of art forms (Rocks at Port-Goulphar, Belle-Île 188). Claude Monet, the famous impressionist painter, was born in Paris on November 14 in the year 1840. Monet was the founder of French Impressionist paintings; the term was taken from his painting Titled “Impression, Sunrise”. The paper will discuss and analyze the magnificent and strikingly beautiful artwork “Rocks at Belle –Isle” by him Claude Oscar Monet Biography ).
“Rocks at Belle –Isle Composition” - Claude Monet 1886, oil on canvas
Belle – Ile as a destination was quite intriguing for the artist Claude Monet. The place was not a tourist destination which might have created more interest for Monet to capture the place on his canvas. The painting is an attempt to depict landscapes with unique features attempting to bring about a general and larger meaning. Like in “Rocks at Belle –Ile he has depicted the rough terrain of the Brittany coast, water forming peaks with its foamy appearance, and beyond. The boundless sea which seems like merging with the sky.So it is not only the coast Monet is describing through his brush, but the sea in general, The vast, endless sea continuously striving to establish its supremacy over the dry land.one can sense that the main object or the centerpiece of the painting is cliffs. The painting is fascinating, and it takes time for the viewer to soak into nature’s impression through Monet’s eyes (Brodskaya 26).
Monet painted canvases which had unconventional compositions and elements. Monet developed in his own peculiar style in the late 1860s. He did not follow the conventional painting rules or styles and experimented with bold colors, loose brush strokes and paid much attention to the interplay of light and color. His painting Rocks at Belle –Isle is an excellent example of his distinctive style and is a true example of French Impressionism, a style in which a lot of emphases was laid to depict nature directly in a non-narrative way(Claude Monet ).. The painting showed different rocks forming one solid mass emerging from the uncontrolled waves of the sea.
The Impact of colors
Claude Monet was known for the bold use of colors and in the painting Rocks at Belle-Isle, one can see the use of vivid colors to create contrasting effects. The main portion of the painting covered by cliffs is painted in dark tones, and lighter hues of blue and white are used to paint the motion of water. It is noticeable that in the painting both thick and thin paint is used. The painting tries to capture the changing mood and light as if trying to explain the changing temper of the sea. Monet was not a fan of using an array of colors. He utilized a limited palette including white, yellow, deep madder, cobalt blue, and vermilion to paint and bring out desired effects.
Brushwork and lines
The brushwork that we see in Monet’s paintings has been termed as tache, a French word which means a blot. Tache involved creating remarkable effects using a single color wherein bold, even loaded strokes were made (Brushwork ).. This is also called as Impressionist brush stroke, for which Monet was famous, even in Rocks at Belle-Isle Monet used this technique. Monet has used subtle and discreet lines in the painting to bring out the elements he wanted to define. He spent days sketching the “Rocks at Belle –Isle” shifting to different points to capture the right view and effect of mood and light. It is incredible how he has captured the reproduction of the rocky cliffs, nature and other weather elements with his elegant strokes and lines giving a realistic feel to the painting.
Light and Shadow
Monet creates the required perspective with the efficient use of light and shadows. It would have been difficult for the artist to elevate the expression of the painting without proper use of lighted and shadowed areas. The painting with deep tones of shadows in the background gives a profound sense of depth. The absence of light and shadow would have flattened the image, making it lose its perspective entirely. Every element of art is essential to make an art piece complete. Light and shadow play a paramount role in enhancing the message and meaning displayed in the paintings. The artwork when viewed gives an illusion of the wind whirling on the cliffs, the water rushing to reach the shore conquering the cliffs. The viewers get a feeling of thrill and adventure while admiring the mystic elements of nature.
Space
The oil on canvas by Monet creates a spatial impression, using the right combination of colors, shadow and light in addition to perfect brush strokes creating a complete aerial perspective the background and foreground. The painting also raises awareness in the viewer’s mind of the places they have seen or visited. It makes one aware of the nature and its magnificent beauty of the land. Monet creates rough, rocky cliffs striking with water, contrasting with each other yet existing in harmony together. The painting with its effects of water, vast sky blue sky merging into the horizon done with great care blending subtle colors to create an in-depth visual impression and that is why it is no doubt that Monet was the Epitome of Impressionism creating direct contact with nature enhancing the visual expression or appearance of the subject instead of creating an accurate document.
Works Cited
Brodskaya, Nathalia. "Claude Monet." Parkstone International 1.1 (2011): 1-160. Print
"Brushwork." nationalgallery. 2016. Web. 14 April. 2016.
"Claude Oscar Monet Biography." claudemonetgallery. 2016. Web. 14 April. 2016.
"Claude Monet." theartstory.org. 2016. Web. 14 April. 2016.
Parkstone International, 01-Jul-2011 - Art - 160 pages
"Rocks at Port-Goulphar, Belle-Île, 188." artic.edu. 2016. Web. 14 April. 2016.
