Monet in Normandy

Yesterday I didn’t talk about the “Monet in Normandy” exhibition other than venting my frustration with Legion of Honor. The truth is, I feel too intimidated to give art critique due to my lack of academic training and the proper vocabulary. Today’s Chronicle, however, has an article by Kenneth Baker, “Getting up close to a master’s artwork reveals how Monet trained eyes to see it,” describing very closed to how I felt yesterday, especially on Monet’s failures:

“The exhibition has the virtue of including various failed paintings. Catalog and label copy cannot acknowledge this, of course. Nearly every picture wears a gaudy frame that chirps ‘masterpiece.’ But visitors can see the inconsistencies for themselves. Certain subjects defeated even Monet. In three paintings of turbulent shorelines, especially ‘Waves Breaking’ (1881), the brushstrokes that fumble for terms in which to capture crashing surf end up as a churn of frustration.“

Exactly! I remembered that I was stunned to see that crappy piece, but I wasn’t sure if there was something there that my untrained eyes couldn’t catch. I recalled that I was also shocked to see some of his lesser work, but I thought that it was just me, that I was unqualified to say anything about oil paintings. Now I know that I should just trust my own guts. After all, good art is supposed to stir up the warm feelings inside of its audience’s heart. If I can’t perceive that, it’s more likely that the artist didn’t do a good job instead of vice versa.

To be fair, there are far more great pieces than his failed ones on display. Even as being so unpleased with LOH and the 5-hour trip yesterday, I still planned to go back sometimes (before 09/17/2006, of course) to give it a closer examination.

Oil painting, unlike other painting media, is 3D. The paint itself creates its own sculpture on the flat surface, aside from the 2D objects that it presents. It’s rather fascinating! I had to squat in front of each painting to see that special effect. Monet’s early work was rather flat, but his later work had life of its own. Van Gogh, the crazy painter, was a master on this. I didn’t think much of his paintings until I went to Van Gogh Museum and saw them in person. I was enlightened by oil painting for the first time! And even better, there was plenty of room to accomodate the large crowd and I was able to truely enjoy it.