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Monet and the Impressionists

 ‘Merci Monsieur Durand-Ruel!’

On Monday 27 October, a group of second year students of French together with their lecturers, Dr Anu Bissoonauth-Bedford and Mrs Denys Fleury organised an educational visit, funded by the Faculty of Arts, to the superb exhibition from the museum of Fine arts Boston on Monet & the Impressionists.

The Gallery offered the services of an impressively knowledgeable tour guide who, having spent several years in France as part of her involvement in art exhibitions, was able to conduct the visit in French. Through her expert guidance, we travelled back in time through thirty of the finest paintings by Claude Monet, the leader of the group of young innovators, such as Cézanne, Manet, Degas, Pissaro, Renoir and Sisley, known as the impressionists today.

We admired paintings from Monet’s early years (‘Rue de la Bavole, Honfleur’ ,1864), gazed in amazement at  the depiction of light and shade so unique to his impressionist style (Impression: sunrise 1874, Cap Martin, near Menton, 1884), and pondered over the subtle and fugitive effects of the famous series painted at the end of the 19^th century (the Creuse Valley series, 1889, the Haystacks, 1891, Rouen Cathedral, 1894).  

Below is a snapshot of some of our lasting impressions :

‘Monet is probably my favourite painter, although I have a soft spot for Sisley's paintings. I travel in the past every time I go to an impressionist painting exhibition. I just love it!’ (Denys Fleury)

‘Good to just chill out and relax after a year’s hard work.’ (Brooke Henning)

 ‘I really enjoyed the exhibition and particularly liked his more colourful paintings of landscapes, mountains and villages etc. Also the paintings in succession with the different lights were really good.’ (Louise Sligar)

‘Art doesn't usually make me feel anything special and the impressionist paintings were no different. I did however admire the skill of the painters; their ability to paint with perspective and just how good the rough splotchy oil style looks. I also think its amazing to think about looking at the exact same canvas that millions of other people would have looked at - maybe it does connect people in that way?’ (Drue Bennett)

‘The specialist guide talking in French added to an already great exhibition of many of the finest Expressionist paintings you could see at one time anywhere. Her knowledge of the artists and the paintings was truly profound and helped clarify why these paintings attract attention whenever they are shown anywhere in the world’. (Jenny & Geoff Hancock)

‘The exhibition provided us with the opportunity to gain an insight into an artistic movement that had such a considerable impact on French culture! This enriching visit was followed by lunch at Darling Harbour's 'the Little Snail' French restaurant, where we were able to sample delicacies such as ‘escargots’ (snails) and the pâté du jour – (duck liver pâté). The day was an enjoyable and informative end to a year's study and allowed us to thank lecturers Anu Bissoonauth-Bedford and Denys Fleury for their hard work during the year.’ (Matt Cropper)

‘The French public regarded the Impressionists as unfinished, so there was buyer resistance. Paul Durand-Ruel, a dealer who travelled between the east coast of America and France took a great risk. He bought forty canvases mostly Monet and gambled on the success of his judgement about the taste and wealth of the American public. The artists had framed their canvases in simple white, narrow frames. However he insisted they be reframed in elaborate gold frames, maybe this was the secret of his success!’  (Norma Castaldi, tour guide)

‘What an inspiring way to finish off the year and get students to reflect how Arts mirror the social and political changes in a society. Impressionism certainly does embody the change in ideas that were occurring in France, and more generally in Europe in the second half of the 19^th and beginning of the 20^th centuries.’ (Anu Bissoonauth-Bedford)

And perhaps we could leave the definition of ‘impressionism’ to the man himself:

‘The only merit I have is to have painted directly from nature with the aim of conveying my impressions in front of the most fugitive effects’.

Claude Monet