by Kristen Depken
Travel to nearly any museum in the world and odds are you will find at least a few works by Claude Monet on display. Yet rarely can a large number of the artist’s masterpieces be found in one place, which is why the current showing at Wildenstein & Company is such a treat.
The first large-scale Monet retrospective in New York in over 30 years, “Claude Monet (1840-1926): A Tribute to Daniel Wildenstein and Katia Granoff” was organized by Guy Wildenstein in honor of father Daniel and art dealer Katia Granoff, both ardent supporters of Monet’s work. The exhibit features over 60 paintings by the father of Impressionism, on loan from nearly 20 museums and 40 private collections for the one-time only show, which took over two years to plan.
With works from all phases of Monet’s career spanning three rooms in the luxe gallery, the exhibit displays Monet’s progression as an artist and the way in which his experimentation with light, brushstrokes, and composition set the standards for the Impressionist movement. The selection features a wide range of subject matter, documenting Monet’s treatment of his famous gardens at Giverny, his family, sights encountered on his travels, and many other scenes.
His love of the beautiful landscapes to which he retreated in order to work can be seen in pieces such as “The Seine at Argenteuil” (1874), on loan from the RISD Museum in Providence, RI, and “Seaside at Honfleur” (1864), from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. A series of water lilies and several other scenes from Giverny, including the lovely “The Flowering Arbor, Giverny” (1913) from the Phoenix Art Museum, represent the style and composition for which Monet is most well-known.
Yet one of the most fascinating aspects of the exhibit is its inclusion of many works that stray from the typical Monet. We’ve all seen a myriad of Monet reproductions, from water lily posters to floral prints, seascape stationery to Giverny umbrellas, and often associate the artist only with his most well known works. When given a glimpse of his wider and more varied repertoire, however, Monet is appreciated from a whole new perspective.
In 1867’s “The Garden of the Princess” (1867), on loan from the Allen Memorial Art Museum at Oberlin College, Monet uses a rich color palette and an attention to detail to create a masterful work not instantly recognizable as his own. “View of Vetheuil, Ice Floes” (1880-81), a rarely shown piece, explores a colder, darker mood and a more abstract technique; meanwhile, various still lifes, including “Still Life with Flowers and Fruits” (1869) from the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, represent a departure from Monet’s characteristic subject matter. Such works direct attention to Monet’s skill as an artist rather than his popularity.
Adding to the appeal of the exhibit are three works from private collections that have never before been displayed to the public – “Adolphe Monet in the Garden of Le Cocteau at Saint-Adresse” (1867), “Through the Trees, Île de la Grande Jatte” (1878), and “Villas at Bordighera” (1884) – as well as several works that have never been reproduced in color. In addition, five paintings are on loan from the Musée Marmottan-Monet in Paris, including “Rouen Cathedral, Effects of Sunlight” (1892) and “The Tuileries Gardens”.
Not to be missed is a room on the gallery’s first floor filled with letters and photos from Monet’s personal life. Handwritten notes to second wife Alice Hoschedé (alongside their English translations), from before and after their marriage, provide a glimpse of Monet’s inner thoughts on both his life and his work, the finishing touch to an exhibit that sheds new light on a beloved artist.
“Claude Monet (1840-1926): A Tribute to Daniel Wildenstein and Katia Granoff” is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., until June 15 at Wildenstein & Company, 19 E. 64th Street (between 5th and Madison). Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. Proceeds benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
| Wildenstein & Company19 E 64th Streetbetween 5th & MadisonNew York, NY 10021 |
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