Lesson 3: Use of Light
All of the Impressionists, particularly Claude Monet, were extremely interested in developing techniques for capturing the effects of light on various landscapes. Their explorations led them to paint outdoors or 'en- plein-air'. Many of the painters focused their efforts on capturing the effects of light including shadows and fleeting weather changes, which made painting rapidly and outside the studio essential.
Studies in Light
Thanks to the new railroads ringing Paris, the Impressionists were able to leave the city and search for sites along the banks of the Seine and in the Forest of Fontainebleau. Often, they would concentrate on a single theme or place and then paint it at different times of day and in different seasons.
Monet painted several series that show the effect of light on a specific subject. His most famous series are the Haystack series and the Rouen Cathedral series.
The Haystacks series by Claude Monet constitutes one of the most familiar icons of Impressionism. Venturing forth at various times of day, in all weathers and light conditions, and at different seasons, Monet recorded the effects of light on these rustic sculptural forms, so familiar in his day.
In these paintings, the effects of light determine more than just the shape created by shadow and light. For Monet, it was primarily a way to capture with color the atmosphere of the moment. This was done partially through the use of advancing (warm) tones and receding (cool) tones.
Check out more of the paintings in the Haystack series and in the series of paintings done of the facade of Rouen Cathedral at http://www.ibiblio.org Search for Monet.
