When one thinks of Impressionism, more often than not the first name that comes to mind is French painter Claude Monet. With his dappled brushstrokes and fascination with changing light, Monet’s work more than any other defines the term ‘impression.’

Here’s a look at some of his Monet’s techniques.

Monet’s painting Impression, Sunrise from 1873 was the painting that caused art critic Louis Leroy to coin the term “Impressionism,” though his intent was more insult than compliment at the time. Monet Painting, Boats on Water, Orange Sunset

Monet Painting, Boats on Water, Orange Sunset

Monet’s brushstrokes are incredibly simple.

To maintain the same level of spontaneity and energy throughout, he has not worked any part of the painting past the level of a few short strokes, allowing the viewer’s eye to “optically blend” color and value information. In this detail of the water, you can see the raised edges of thick paint, and the intense, almost straight-from-the-tube color. Detail of Monet painting, Boat on Water, Orange Sunset

Detail of Monet painting, Boat on Water, Orange Sunset

His short strokes and heavy impasto anticipate both the work of Vincent Van Gogh a few years later and the pointillist techniques of Georges Seurat. Monet Paiting, Haystacks in Open Field, Trees in Background

Monet Paiting, Haystacks in Open Field, Trees in Background

Haystacks at Giverny 1884

Monet’s Haystacks series show his approach to a familiar problem for landscape painters: atmospheric perspective.

Artists have long known that distant objects close to the horizon appear more blue and get lighter the further away they are. The traditional approach has been to paint atmospheric perspective softly, using as well-blended and diffused a brushstroke as possible to make the imagery appear further away. Monet shakes up that tradition by vigorously attacking this area with his signature short, choppy strokes, once again coaxing the viewer to “optically blend” the strokes and values, and it still fades into the background. The haystacks themselves are a great example of how value, color and context go a long way toward describing something. Monet doesn’t have to paint individual straws for the viewer to see the hay– another brilliant “impression.” Progress of Cathedral Painting

Three Studies of Rouen Cathedral 1894

Monet was fascinated by the interplay between light and the natural and built landscape, and his series of studies of Rouen Cathedral from 1894 are one of the most detailed examinations of how light changes over time and through different weather that any painter has ever undertaken.

Especially interesting is how Monet’s technique changes to respond to the different light scenarios– in a soft light situation, Monet’s brushstrokes are similarly soft and diffused, while his impasto grows more aggressive and sculptural when the scene contains a harsher, stronger light. This series of paintings also emphasizes the speed at which Monet must have had to work to capture the light at the right moments. Close Up of Monet Water Lilies

Water Lilies 1899 When you first come face to face one of the larger paintings from Monet’s Water Lilies series in person, it’s hard to understand how something so monumental in scale can seem so delicate and peaceful. If you look a little closer it’s also notable just how much Monet accomplished with an extremely limited palette of mostly muted and muddy greens and blues. Yet the lilies seem to glow with light, as do the reflections in the water.

Monet’s secret to making the pond seem three-dimensional is that only the lilies are impasto, with a tiny bit of indigo painted underneath each one serving as a shadow and reflection.

The pond itself, though made of Monet’s choppy brushstrokes, is flat and smooth. In the middle of everything is a radiant impasto yellow flower, poised against a complementary blue reflection. Monet’s techniques have made him synonymous with Impressionism, but they aren’t exclusive to that movement. You can see his influence in many contemporary paintings, both representational and abstract. Explore Impressionism further in Master Palettes: Explore Color Mixing.

Monet Painting Techniques: A Closer Look

Here’s a look at some of his Monet’s techniques.

Monet’s brushstrokes are incredibly simple.

Monet’s Haystacks series show his approach to a familiar problem for landscape painters: atmospheric perspective.

Monet was fascinated by the interplay between light and the natural and built landscape, and his series of studies of Rouen Cathedral from 1894 are one of the most detailed examinations of how light changes over time and through different weather that any painter has ever undertaken.

Monet’s secret to making the pond seem three-dimensional is that only the lilies are impasto, with a tiny bit of indigo painted underneath each one serving as a shadow and reflection.

Share tips, start a discussion or ask one of our experts or other students a question.

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Here’s a look at some of his Monet’s techniques.

Monet’s brushstrokes are incredibly simple.

Monet’s Haystacks series show his approach to a familiar problem for landscape painters: atmospheric perspective.

Monet was fascinated by the interplay between light and the natural and built landscape, and his series of studies of Rouen Cathedral from 1894 are one of the most detailed examinations of how light changes over time and through different weather that any painter has ever undertaken.

Monet’s secret to making the pond seem three-dimensional is that only the lilies are impasto, with a tiny bit of indigo painted underneath each one serving as a shadow and reflection.

Share tips, start a discussion or ask one of our experts or other students a question.

No Responses to “Monet Painting Techniques: A Closer Look”

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