Claude Monet: 10 works

'Dating from the beginning of Monet's career, this view of a street in the old port of Honfleur is a relatively traditional subject painted with great simplicity and directness. Monet's palette of pure, contrasting colors is a radical departure from the traditional practice of building up an overall tonality through delicate gradations of color.'

'From December 1871 until 1878, Monet lived in Argenteuil.'

'Monet's use of brilliant colors is mirrored in the water below, resulting in a remarkable symmetry that makes it difficult to distinguish between the reflected colors and their sources.'

'Monet once wrote of his working method: "When you paint outdoors, attempt to forget the objects you see before you (...)'

'From 1883 until his death in 1926, the Impressionist Claude Monet lived in Giverny, where he painted his Kaystacks series and also painted the nearby village of Vernon.'

'In this painting, the composition of which is outstanding, with the play of curves followed by the trees, Monet has chosen to represent only three trees in the foreground while accentuating the diagonal of the middle one.'

'In 1883 Monet moved to Giverny where he lived until his death.'

'These works were unique in that Monet composed them solely of an expanse of water, as if cut out of the pond's surface, with no horizon or waterline and no sky-- elements normally considered essential parts of a landscape painting.'

'Monet grew white water lilies in the water garden he had installed in his property at Giverny in 1893.'

'Monet's veritable artistic testament, these "large decorations" are the culmination of an entire life.'