Sample Article Review On The Seine At Bougival

An Assignment Submitted by

It is obvious that the term art occurs as absolutely unique as well as sophisticated, since there is a variety of contradictory approaches to its meanings and constructs. Considering the phenomenon of art, one should be aware that it is basically a practice of creating pictures of various objects or people. Since the time immemorial, paintings were noticed to capture more details than all other traditional mediums, including literature. In the contemporary contemplations, the paintings emerged to be the integral part of people’s life. But due to the rapid development of technologies, people tend to expect more out of the pictures and gradually move away from usual techniques. As for this essay, it mainly aimed at analyzing the famous painting of French impressionist Claude Monet; it is worth saying that the research is focused on the historical context of the artwork. Moreover, it also communicates personal observations and opinions with regards to the chosen artwork, which is “The Seine at Bougival”.

Claude Monet

Speaking about Oscar Claude Monet, it is worth mentioning that this artist occurs as the representative of the impressionistic style of painting. The impressionistic style of painting appeared in the 19th century in France. It is clear that until this time, the entity of color was considered as the trait of the subject itself; all in all, the epoch of impressionism managed to make a shift of focus from this construct to absolutely new technical approach. Analyzing the creative activity of Claude Monet, as well as the other artists working within the frames of the impressionistic style, one should take into account that he started taking his tubes of paint outside in order do his work. Consequently, the notion of out-of-doors painting emerged; it was mainly characterized by staying outside the house while creating the artworks. Conducting a survey of the impressionistic style, it is worth saying that a peculiar thing lies in its focus on the light and the way it was absorbed by the objects they placed on canvas. The thing is that the artists were targeted on observing the painting for a long time so as to finally modify the light with the help of brushes and some new combinations of paints.
Speaking about Claude Monet and the discussion painting The Seine at Bougival, it becomes apparent that the French impressionist managed to study both light and color. The point is that Claude Monet was the first to initiate the practice of painting outside. Looking into his paintings, it is necessary to take into account the fact that Claude Monet appears to exactly what he eyewitnesses; obviously, the sophisticated technique of brushstrokes enables him to convey the idea of completely modified light. When watching Monet’s masterpieces from a little distance, one can easily emphasize all the objects that the artist painted. Claude Monet is indisputably one of the best-known impressionists associated with Bougival; it is worth making mention that Bougival is the commune where he created a number of his paintings.
“The Bridge at Bougival, or The Seine at Bougival,” 1869 emerges as the painting that Claude Monet managed to create in a way that conveys not the ordinary scene. The artist was reluctant to capture the composition of holidaymakers walking down the street and socializing with each other. It is clear that Claude Monet decided to display the bridge through the river Seine to the Île de Croissy. The artist considered the scene with the son Jean together with the future wife named Camille to be a little bit more intimate. Taking a view of the painting, which is under discussion, one should be aware that in 1869, Claude Monet has settled in the commune of Saint-Michel in Bougival together with Camille Doncieux and the son. Subsequently, Monet wanted to portray the bridge spanning the Seine. Analyzing the given painting, one cannot but encounter the well-organized composition with carefully arranged geometric lines; when working on this painting, Claude Monet was obviously aimed at reaching the recreation of the morning’s light that he decided to convey in the lively manner. Observing the painting from a little distance, it is possible to witness the small boat on the Seine having bluish illuminations. It is also necessary to draw attention to the silhouettes of the vacationers walking along the foot of the bridge accompanied by the noticeable shadows of the trees. A peculiar thing about this painting is that Claude Monet decided to show the bridge road from the perspective of some sort of the tunnel inviting the vacationers to abandon the island on the way to the commune’s quays. While looking at the painting “The Seine at Bougival”, it is possible to feel the soft atmosphere of the bright morning, which is full of light and breeziness.
One cannot but distinguish the beauty of the summer’s morning that Claude Monet managed to capture in a specific way. The artist paid attention to recreate the cloudy brightness of the sky incorporating three different colors with numerous shades. When watching the discussion painting, it becomes clear that Monet reproduced the scene that he absorbed with his soul and mind. The details of the painting that one can see when looking closely reflect the waves of the artist’s breathing. The brush strokes and the open composition prove the painting to be created in the impressionistic style. It is evident that Monet’s emphasis on modifying the ordinary depiction of light makes the painting a unique artwork. Despite the usual subject matter, the painting contains some new character with absolutely unexpected visual perspectives.
Considering the details of Monet’s painting, it is worth saying that the artist provides vivid colour accuracy. Claude Monet, being an unquestionable representative of the impressionistic style utilized giclée print in his painting; it encloses the mechanism of spraying thousands of ink droplets on the canvas. As a result, it often offers corresponding transitions. Taking a view of this technique, it is possible to advance an argument that Monet’s paintings are obviously of high quality. The painting “The Seine at Bougival” represents an accurate reproduction of quite atypical scene. Being an oil painting, “The Seine at Bougival” incorporates the play of light and color. The composition illuminates a sensitive nature; it proves a real talent of widely-acknowledged French artist.
The pattern of the bridge road is regarded as quite an ordinary impressionistic theme. Claude Monet managed to create the shape of the street in the little village with an exclusive homeliness. In the painting “The Seine at Bougival”, it is possible to uncover Claude Monet’s palette of fresh colors. His manner of creating the paintings occurs as a drastic shift of focus from the typical practice of reproducing an overall mode to accurate modifications of light and color. Claude Monet succeeded in capturing the exceptionally unusual perspectives. Moreover, it is worth taking into consideration the artist’s experience in terms of playing with the gradations of light.
Regarding the creative activity of Claude Monet in general and his painting “The Seine at Bougival” in particular, some might offer an assertion that there is nothing special about this artist. Evidently, Monet’s paintings are likely to represent just the visual perspective of countryside. Notwithstanding this fact, in order to understand all the depth of Monet’s paintings, it is necessary to closely look at it. Consequently, watching the painting from a little distance allows us to see hidden context of the brush strokes and light gradations. The thing is that the artist’s talent lies not just in the ability to convey new shades of light; Claude Monet proved to have a sensitive manner of appealing to people via the compositions of his paintings.
All the paintings that Claude Monet created during his life emphasize the way he perceived the world. Small villages and even some ordinary things as, for example, haystack appeared to be the centre of Monet’s attention, since he realized the possession of skills enabling him to express his frame of mind exactly these customary objects. In any way, a special attention that Claude Monet carried through all his paintings was paid to the most significant component of his paintings – the light. Different types of weather as well as the different time of the day inspired him giving the chance to catch the snapshot of unforgettable and unrepeatable beauty. It becomes apparent that Claude Monet was fond of playing with colors, and, as a result, he managed to make a real breakthrough in terms of human awareness of what the painting is likely to entail. The thing is that the discussion painting, which “The Seine at Bougeval” is a good example of how the artist can use the appropriate gradations of light and color in order to specify the subject matter. Contemplating upon the creative activity of Claude Monet, one should be aware that this artist dedicated his life to inventing a complex technique of organizing and filling his paintings, and the painting “The Seine at Bougival” gives the evidence to how deeply and tenderly the artist can be while portraying the countryside.