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 $15.99 US.

Landscape is only an impression,

its appearance changing
at every moment.

TJL hroughout his life, Claude Monet

wrote and spoke about his work. This
elegant book pairs some of his most
important paintings with his own words
to create a uniquely personal look at one
of the world’s most renowned artists.

Arranged as a simple rhyme, the text

introduces readers to the Impressionists’
goal of capturing a fleeting moment—
the morning mist, sunlight reflected off
a lily pond—while conveying the familiar
concepts of seasons and time of day.

Monet’s evocative words, combined with1

spectacular reproductions of his work,
create an art book perfect for young
and old alike.
Mary Jacobs
 Monet’s
IMPRESSIONS

Words and pictures by

Claude TYlonel
SOMERSET CO. LIBRARY
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. 08807
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York

GTQ
chronicle baek'S-'Scxn ■Francisco
 Landscape is only an impression,
its appearance changing at every moment.

-Claude Monet

n trying to capture how a landscape looked in a particular

light at a particular moment, French artist Claude Monet
closely studied nature and worked directly on the spot,
sometimes turning from one canvas to the next as the
light changed. He and other artists in his circle came to he
known as the Impressionists, a name taken from the title
of Monet’s painting Impression, Sunrise (above).

Monet wrote letters to his family and friends, and often

spoke about his work. Here are some of his paintings
paired with his words.
it*

VTv

VV . N'C \. . \ ■• n }. .
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I paint like a bird sinris,
in every harmony.
Fresh, fo6hy mornings
liriht spilling everywhere
sudden bursts of sun
the beauty of the air.
Flowers in the spring,
trees against the blue
huge waves, splendidly wild,
snow, a white immensity.
Water and reflections,
water, water lilies,
a passing cloud,
a freshening breeze.
The sun, an enormous fireball,
setting gloriously.
iS*“
The works of art reproduced in this book are by Claude Monet (French, 1840-1926). The words in the text were taken from
Monet’s letters to family and friends and from articles in which he was quoted. In some cases, the words were translated
verbatim; in others, a free translation was used. The credits below list the sources of the quotes. The numbered letters can be
found in Daniel Wildenstein’s Claude Monet: bioqrapbie et catalogue raisonne, 1974-85. -L. F.

Gustave Geffroy, "Histoire de l’lmpressionnisme,” Letter to Alice Monet, March 18, 1900 (no. 1532)
La Vie Artistique, 1894
Camille Monet (1347-1679) in the Garden at Argenfeuil
The Magpie .Oil on canvas, 32 Vs x 23% in., 1876
Oil on canvas, 35 x 51 % in., 1868-69 The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Musee d’Orsay, Paris The Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Collection,
Photograph: Erich Lessing / Art Resource, New York Gift of Walter H. and Leon’ore Annenberg, 2000,
Bequest of Walter H. Annenberg, 2002 2000.93.1

Francois Thiebault-Sisson, "Autour de Claude Monet, Gustave Geffroy, Claude Monet: sa vie, son temps, son
Anecdotes et souvenirs,” Le Temps, January 8, 1927 oeuvre, 1922
Morning on the Seine near Givernq Landscape at Zaandam
Oil on canvas, 32 !/s x 36% in., 1897 Oil on canvas, 18 x 26% in., 1871-72
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Bequest of Julia W. Emmons, 1956 56.135.4 Robert Lehman Collection, 1975 1975.1.196
Francois Thiebault-Sisson, "Autour de Claude Monet, Hermann Bang, Journal, April 6, 1895
Anecdotes et souvenirs,” Le Temps, January 8, 1927
Garden at Sainte-Adresse
'The Parc Monceau Oil on canvas, 38% x 51 % in., 1867
Oil on canvas, 28% x 21% in., 1878 The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Purchase, special contributions and funds given or
The Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ittleson Jr. Purchase bequeathed by friends of the Museum, 1967 67.241
Fund, 1959 59.142

Frangois Thiebault-Sisson, "Les Nympheas de Claude Monet,” Letter to Alice Hoschede, January 26, 1884 (no. 394)
La Revue de l’art ancien et moderne, June-December 1927
Bordiqhera
Camille Monet and a Child in the Artist’s Garden in Arqenteuil Oil on canvas, 25% x 32 in., 1884
Oil on canvas, 21% x 25% in., 1875 The Art Institute of Chicago
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Potter Palmer Collection 1922.426
Anonymous gift in memory of Mr. and Photography © The Art Institute of Chicago
Mrs. Edwin S. Webster, 1976 1976.833
Photograph © 2009 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Letters to Alice Hoschede, November 27, 1885 (no. 681), Letter to Blanche Hoschede, March 1, 1895 (no. 1276)
and G. Caillebotte, October 11, 1886 (no. 709)
Ice Floes
The b/Ianneporte (Etretat) Oil on canvas, 26 x 39’A in, 1893
Oil on canvas, 25®A x 32 in, 1883 The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York H O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of
Bequest of William Church Osborn, 1951 51.30.5 Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929 29-100.108

Gustave Geffroy, Claude Monet: sa vie, son iemps, Letter to Raymond Koechlin, January 15, 1915
son oeuvre, 1922 (no. 2142)

La Grenouillere Water Lilies

Oil on canvas, 29'/a x 39 *A in, 1869 Oil on canvas, 39 A x 78'A in, 1919
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
H O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of The Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Collection,
Mrs. H O. Havemeyer, 1929 29-100.112 Gift of Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg, 1998,
Bequest of Walter H. Annenberg, 2002 1998.325.2
Frangois Thiebault-Sisson, "Les Nympheas de Claude Monet,’ Franqois Thiebault-Sisson, "Les Nympheas de Claude
La Revue de l’art ancien et moderne, June-December 1927 Monet,” La Revue de l’art ancien et moderne,
June-December 1927
Poppg Fields Near Argenteuil
Oil on canvas, 21% x 29 in., 1875 Woman with a Parasol—Madame Monet and Her Son
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Oil on canvas, 39% X 31% in., 1875
The Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Gift of Walter FI. and Leonore Annenberg, 2001, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon 1983.1.29
Bequest of Walter H. Annenberg, 2002 2001.202.5 Image courtesy of the Board of Trustees,
National Gallery of Art

Letter to Alice Monet, March 9, 1900 (no. 1527) Letter to Alice Monet, February 14, 1900 (no. 1507)

Setting Sun on the Seine at Lavacourt, Winter Effect San Giorgio Maggiore bg Twilight
Oil on canvas, 39% x 59 in., 1880 Oil on canvas, 25% x 36% in., 1908
Musee du Petit Palais, Paris National Museum of Wales, Cardiff
Photograph: Reunion des Musees Nationaux / Art The Davies Sisters Collection; Bequest, Gwendoline
Resource, New York Davies, 1952 NMW A 2485
© National Museum of Wales
 Front cover:
Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies (detail). Claude Monet, French, 1840-1926.
Oil on canvas, 36 >4 x 29 in., 1899- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mi's. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929 29-100.118

Back cover:
Poppif Fields Mear Argenteuil. Claude Monet, French, 1840-1926.
Oil on canvas, 21% x 29 in., 1875. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
The Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Collection, Gift of Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg, 2001,
Bequest of Walter H. Annenberg, 2002 2001.202.5

Title page:
•Jean Wlonet (1667-1913) on His Hobby Horse. Claude Monet, French, 1840-1926.
Oil on canvas, 23% x 29% in., 1872. The METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF Art, New York.
Gift of Sara Lee Corporation, 2000 2000.195

Page 6:
Self-Portrait with a Beret. Claude Monet, French, 1840-1926.
Oil on canvas, 22 x 18% in., 1886. Private collection.
Photograph © Lefevre Fine Art Ltd., London / The Bridgeman Art Library International

Page 7:
Maurice Guillemot, "Claude Monet,” La Revue illustree, March 15, 1898,
and W. G. C. Byvanck, Un Hollandais a Paris en 1891, 1892

Impression, Sunrise. Claude Monet, French, 1840-1926. Oil on canvas, 18% x 24% in., 1872.
Musee Marmottan, Paris.
Photograph: Erich Lessing / Art Resource, New York

Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Chronicle Books LLC.

Copyright © 2009 by The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written
permission from the copyright owner and publisher.

Produced by the Department of Special Publications, The Metropolitan Museum of Art:

Robie Rogge, Publishing Manager; Linda Falken, Senior Editor, Atif Toor, Designer; Mary Wong, Assistant Production Manager.

Photography by The Metropolitan Museum of Art Photograph Studio.

Manufactured in China.

Library of Congress Catalogingnn-Publication Data

Monet, Claude, 1840-1926.

Monet’s impressions : words and pictures / by Claude Monel
p. cm.
ISBN 978T~58839'306'7 (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) —
ISBN 978-0~8118-7056~6 (Chronicle Books)
1. Monet, Claude, 1840-1926—Themes, motives. 2. Monet, Claude,
1840-1926—Quotations. I. Title.
ND553M7A35 2009
759-4—dc22
2009004287
10 967654321

Chronicle Books LLC

680 Second Street, San Francisco, California 94107
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 ///O
J 759.4 MON
Monet. Claude, 1840-1926.
Monet s impressions

Mary Jacobs Library

64 Washington St.
Rocky Hill, NJ 08553
 Claude Monet (1840-1926) was a key-
figure in the French Impressionist
movement. In his quest to capture
how a landscape looked at a particular
moment in time, he worked directly on
the spot, sometimes turning from one
canvas to another as the light changed.
Bridc/e over a Pond of LOaier Lilies,
depicted on the cover of this book, is
one of several paintings he made of the
Japanese footbridge in his garden at
Giverny, France.

Also available:

Vincent’s Colors
Words and pictures
by Vincent van Gogh

"An extraordinary accomplishment.”

—* Booklist, starred review
. j
x
Front cover:*

Bridge over a Pood of Water Lilies (detail). Claude Monet,

French, 1840-1926. Oil on canvas, 36/s x 29 in., 1899-
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
FI. O. FFavemeyer Collection, Bequest of
Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929 29.100.118

Back cover:

Poppij Fields Near Arqenteuil. Claude Monet, French, 1840-1926.

Oil on canvas, 21'/ x 29 in., 1875. The Metropolitan Museum

OF Art, New York. The Walter H. and Leonore Anncnberg

Collection, Gift of Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg, 2001,
Bequest of Walter H. Annenberg, 2002 2001.202.5

Manufactured in China,
’T >•-
 Hill!! llll Illlllil llli lili ii mm i Hum iii in in

Landscape is only an impression,

its appearance changing at every moment

— Claude Monet

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9780811870566
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