Evening star., 1940-08-04
Monet Works
Show Love
OF Nature
Centenary Offers
Time of Pride in
Impressionist
Bv Florence S. Bergman.

By Florence S. Bergman.
In France, 100 years ago, a great
painter was born. Were France still
free, the centenary of Claude Monet,
chief protagonist of the impression
lists, would undoubtedly be cele-
brated this year with comprehensive
memorial exhibitions of his work.
But there may be no heart in a sub
jugated people for such gesture.
Washingtonians, nevertheless, may
refresh their memories of Monets
vision of a peaceful and beautiful
France, with the examples of his
work in the Corcoran and Phillips
Memorial Galleries. And Americans
may take pride in the fact that this
Nation accorded Monet his first
popular success.
The centenary comes next Novem-
ber IA But it seems fitting to COM
memorate the artist in summer
time. when the sun is at its zenith;
for Monet, above all other painters
devoted his genius to depicting sun
light. His paintings are flooded with
to simmer and dissolve in it.
These joyous paintings, how
ever, are not completely represent
ative or symbolic of their creator S
life although they do represent his
optimistic spirit. For Monet lived
in a turbulent period and his per-
sonal conflicts paralleled those of
his nation During the Sc years
of his life. beginning in 1910, France
fought wars with Morocco, Russia
Austria; occupied Mexico and in
stalled Macmillan as emperor; :;
fought with Prussia and suffered
defeat in 1871; had war with Da-
honey and reached the verge of
one with Great Britain in the
Fashoda incident. which led to the
Entente Cordiale" and the alliance
for the World War against Ger
many. During the same period
Louis Philippe abdicated and France
was republic for few years be-
fore Napoleon III became emperor
for less than two decades, and the
third republic grew out of the defeat
by Prussia.
Parent Opposed Art.
Monet in his private life early
encountered the traditional obsta-
ele-his fathers opposition to an
art career Monet was not inter-
ested in studies to fit him for the
mercantile life of his family and
he filled the pages of his school
books with caricatures.
Although born in Paris, his youth
was spent in LIE Havre, where his
family had settled when he was
years old. In his mid-'teens he
had his first meeting with pro-
fessional artist. Eugene Boudin. a
painter noted for his interpreta-
tions of sea and sky. The latter
noticed young Monet sketching on
the beach at Trouville and taught
him to see nature directly and
truthfully and to paint in the open
air A friend of Boudin. the Dutch
artist Jongkind. eyerted a similar
influence on Monet.
His association with these older
painters undoubtedly sharpened his
determination to become an artist
and he went to Paris. with 1000
francs in his pocket. There he met
the painter Pissarro, who was des-
tined to be closely identified with
him in later years.
The customary military service
interviewed. Monet's parents were
willing to purchase his exemption,
provided he abandoned painting
He refused this condition and at the
age of 20 went with his regiment
to Alglers. After two years there
he became i'll with fever. returned
to France and resumed life as an
artist.
Monet was one of the fortunate
few who know from the outset what
they want to do and have the grit
to work toward their goals, no
matter what their obstacles For
example, the only formal instruc-
tion Monet had was in the studio
of Albert Gleyre, about 1862 or 1868.
When Monet comprehended the
academic sort of instruction avail
able to him, he left abruptly Two
other artists later to become famous,
Renoir and. Sisley, and third,
Bazille, whose promise was cut off
by his early death, were also in
Gleyres studio and likewise aban-
= .tioned his classic training. In sum-
heef these young students painted
in the forest of Fontainebleu and
met few of the survivors of the
Barbizon School of three decades
earlier.
Theories Differ.
Although only IS years have
passed since the struggles of I'm
pressionism began, there is differ
ence of opinion as to the move
ment's beginnings The English
painter Constable experimental with
broken color Corot painted land
scapes in which the forms shim-
mered in misty light. Other earlier
18th century artists in France and
England differed with the academic
ideal In one way or another, and
Monet, Renoir and Sisley were in
spired by these earlier radicals. "
The official Salon des BeauX Arts
which stood at that time for hide
bound academicism. refused to eX-
hibit the works of the younger
painters.
In the spring of 1868. when the
salons exhibition was hung but not
yet opened to the public, Emperor
Napoleon III made surprise call
on it. After previeWing the official
show, he asked to see the rejected
works, hundreds of which were
stacked against the walls. I'm
pressed by the first score or SO
shown to him, he asked the Beaux
Arts administration to display
them, as they seemed to him as
good as those in the official exhi-
bition. The administration re-
fused and the Emperor ordered to
be held in galleries near the official
salon, Salon des Refuses and