ABC Wednesday
October 11, 2011

We have reached the letter M already, - half way through this entertaining round of ABC Wednesday.

M is for Claude Monet and also for  Edouard Manet, both French Impressionist Painters who became friends when they met in Paris.

Monet  (1840 - 1926) was the founder of French Impressionist Painting, a style of painting which expresses one's perceptions before nature, especially in plein-air landscape painting.

Monet's impressionistic Sunrise

Eduoard Manet  (1832 - 1883) broke new ground in choosing subjects from events and appearances of his own time and stressing "the arrangement of paint areas on a canvas over and above its function as representation" (Encyclopaedia Britannica)  This painting of "Luncheon on the Grass" aroused public hostility because of the perceived scandalous presence of a naked lady in the company of two gentlemen, and the painting was refused exhibit in 1863.  However it made Manet a hero in the eyes of other Impressionistic painters.

I have always admired these two painters, - especially Monet - and I have tried to incorporate his use of roses and blues and lilacs and other pastels in the garden, and even in our first kitchen on the farm where I painted cupboard drawers and doors in Monet colours.

For more interesting takes on the letter M visit here at ABC Wednesday with thanks to Mrs. Nesbit and her mates.