Water Lilies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Monet_-_Water_Lilies_-_1906,_Ryerson.jpg


Claude Monet, Water Lilies, 1906
Chicago Institute of Art

Say what you will about the Impressionists, but they are just pretty. Monet and his comrades were interested in the effects of light and color and how the eye perceives images. The invention of photography during this period had a great influence on other visual art as it made people think about how they see the world.

Another technical innovation which aided the Impressionists in their art was the development of paint tubes and quicker drying paints. These allowed the painters to go outside to paint their views where they were instead of having to make sketches and hope that you can capture the exact scene in your studio.

Monet had a country estate with plenty of space for creating picturesque views. Most notable are the Japanese bridge and the lily pond. He would make several paintings of these during different times of day and seasons of the year. Taken together, scholars call them parts of a series.