The triptec was so named because of a plant that in the finished product no longer exists.
The museum did studies of the paintings and cross sectioned the layers so that those who were looking at it with a naked eye could see the wonders that unfolded beneath each layer. Along with the plant missing in the far left bottom corner there were many other things that changed along the way. It was like he painted what he saw as he went along and as time progressed so did the painting.
I wanted to feel it. To feel the texture to feel the paint. His brush strokes were so controled for such an uncontrolled end. They asked me to step away, unwillingly I stepped back and admired from a distance.
I have seen his paintings numerous times. I have studied his brush strokes, the way he used color to decipher depth, but it never seemed as real as it did today. I sat for hours looking at these paintings. Contemplating the time of day, where in the garden he was standing and coming up with a ridiculous amount of questions I wanted to ask.
It seems that Monet also did not sign things until he completed them to his liking, which was not often. He was afraid he had ruined this one. He started painting before he had cataract surgery to fix his vision. He then left the paintings to sit for a year while he healed. He then went to work at completing the set. The color scheme changed dramatically from wild vibrant true tones to a new muted landscape. I know this is an artist thing but I wonder if where he was in life changed the way he painted. Did the surgery make such an impact that the light in his life was more muted? So anyway, back to the not signing, it seems after he died his son found the rubber stamp he used to put his signature on his works and added it. I find that hysterically funny because as most of you know I quite frequently forget to sign mine. Maybe I should have a stamp made as well.
Anyway, it was an amazing day. I got to be a part of history, a part of something that has touched the lives of many and will continue on through wonderful museum that do this amazing work.
So thank you to the Nelson Atkins Museum and to Claude Monet for stepping outside of the box, no giving us a horizon line, and making just appreciate the art for what it is. I would love to hear your thoughts if you too have been lucky enough to see these works in person.
