Bloemen

About this artwork

Legaat van de heer A. van Wezel, Amsterdam

Art Historical Context

Claude Monet's *Bloemen* (Flowers), dating from somewhere within his prolific career span of 1860–1912, captures the artist's enduring fascination with nature's fleeting beauty. As a cornerstone of Impressionism, Monet revolutionized painting by emphasizing light, color, and everyday subjects over meticulous detail. This oil on panel, measuring 91 × 48 cm, stands out for its intimate vertical format, ideal for a vibrant floral bouquet that likely draws from the lush gardens of his later years at Giverny. The choice of panel as a support—less common for Monet than canvas—suggests a portable st...

About the Artist

Claude Monet · 1840–1926

Claude Monet, born Oscar-Claude Monet on November 14, 1840, in Paris and raised in Le Havre, Normandy, began his artistic journey as a successful teenage caricaturist. His formal training started at the Le Havre secondary school of the arts in 1851, where he received his first drawing lessons from Jacques-François Ochard. Around 1858, he met Eugène Boudin, who became his pivotal mentor, introducin...