Monet
...ille Doncieux, who is thought to be the subject of many of Monet’s paintings. Together they had two sons, one named Jean, who was born on August 8, 1867, and their second son, Michel Monet in 1878. The same year that Michel was born, Camille became terminally ill. Camille passed away on September 5, 1879. After Camille passed away, a woman named Alice Hoschede assisted Monet in bringing up his sons. Alice and Claude soon fell in love, and after the death of Alice’s husband, Monet and Hoschede married in 1892. Monet took place as step-father to Alice’s six children. Alice and Monet lived a happy life together until her death in 1911. Working outside, Monet painted simple landscapes and scenes of contemporary middle-class society. He soon began to have some success. As his style developed, however, Monet violated one traditional artistic principle after another in the interest of direct artistic expression. His experiments in rendering outdoor sunlight with a direct, sketch like application of bright color became more and more daring. He cut himself off from the possibility of a successful career as the predictable painter that was then supported by the art industry. Monet always carried himself in style though, no matter how poor he was, he wore shirts with ruffles on them. During Monet’s time, an artist strived to have their work displayed at the Salon. In France, the Salon des Refuses was the home for the works of art that met critics high standards. All of the pieces that were displayed at the Salon were pre-selected by the French Academy of Fine Arts. The Academy was opposed to displaying work of the impressionists. The critics labeled Monet and his peers Impressionists because the critics felt that their work was sketch and unfinished, just like if you were getting a first impression of something. When Monet introduced his painting Impression: Sunrise, this permanently gave the artists the label of Impressionists. Due to the problems with society not accepting their work, the Impressionists (including Monet, Renoir, Sisley, Degas, and more) started their on society in April 1874. They called it “Societe Anonyme Cooperative d’Artistes Peintres, Sculpteurs, Graveurs.” This roughly translates to English as “Society of anonymous cooperative artists, painters, sculptors and engravers.” Monet is said to have shown nine pictures, the most famous being Impression, Sunrise. Monet traveled extensively throughout his life. He was invited to see Holland by the Embassy Secretary in the French Delegation at The Hague, Baron l’Estournelles de Constant. Constant was acquaintances with a considerable collector of Monet’s work. Charles Duedon (was the collector) was aware of Monet’s absolute adoration with gardens and rich landscapes and extended an invitation for Monet to come and visit the gardens. Monet stayed in Holland at the Dutch Bulb fields for twelve days. This was not Monet’s first visit to Holland, and as a result, he was very familiar with the light. Monet is s...