Bordighera is a painting by Claude Monet of a small coastal town in Italy (near the French border) of the same name. This wonderful canvas express all that we know and love of Monet.
Immediately you are stuck by the richness of tones in the piece. The various shades of green and blue worked together in such a way that it almost looks illuminated. I would first like to draw your attention to the shades of blue that are used. If you start from the left and look at the trees just above the grass you will see that Monet uses a mixture of cobalt and cerulean with more emphasis on the cobolt (it cannot be certain exactly what colors Monet used on his pallet, my references here are meant for general public knowledge of color). However, it should be noted that he only uses blues in the section of the painting. As you look up you can see the introduction of yellows which make for the green tones, from here all the way along the top of the painting to the other side the greens start to dominate and the pockets of blue are kept lower or to the back for shaded areas. The most striking part is the section that is just to the left of the center (where the three tree trunks merge), for in this section he has the most rapid brush strokes and also includes an off-white tone on the branch that is bending in from the center.
Now looking directly down from this section of the painting you will see the very beginning of the village (the left “edge” of the town). The use of the colors in the branches and the leaves are incorporated into the rendering of the buildings that comprise the village. The darkened windows and shadowed bell tower are made from the same shades of blue mixed with ocre and a hint of red. Blues and greens are ever-present in every structure of the village which make it blend in so naturally with the landscape. See image.
In front of us are posted a number of grand swirling trees that almost jump out at you like dancers! The movement in these trees are unlike any other landscape painting that Monet ever did. They are bursting with life and invite you to come and view. Below them the grassy area is a rich green and is mixed with more blue tones to make for the dark area to the bottom right corner.
All in all this is a most lovely piece and it is worth spending much time with.
Stephen F. Condren – Artist
Bordighera by Claude Monet
Monet Paintings – Famous Claude Monet Art
Claude Monet, one of the founder members of Impressionist art, and someone who also played a key role in maintaining Paris’ standing as the world’s art city is someone who deserves great scrutiny for the work he achieved during his long and illustrious career. In this article we discuss a few of his most important contributions to French art and leave resources at the end for those wishing to learn more about this incredible artist.
For much of his career Monet loved to travel around Europe and use local scenes as his subjects for his impressionist landscape paintings. As time grew on Monet spent most of his time in his beloved garden that he constructed in France as a perfect venue for his paintings. Impressionist art often requires painting during a small window of opportunity during the day, where lighting and weather are exactly as required. By setting up this beautiful garden in Giverny, Monet was more flexible with his opportunities to paint, and also had perfect control over his subjects, be it his Japanese-style bridge or the water lilies and other flowers that adorned his garden.
Monet’s early career was what landed him his reputation and style from which he built upon in later life. Some of his key works from the 1860s to 1880s include Le d
Tapestry – Wheat Field With Crows, by Van Gogh
One of Vincent Van Gogh’s most debated paintings is Wheat Field with Crows. Although it is one of his most powerful, it is also one where interpretations are as varied as the colors the artist uses. Some see the painting as a sort of “suicide note” that Van Gogh has translated onto the canvas. Still others see it in a more positive light, as a depiction of a turbulent yet resigned mind.
Early on in his career, Van Gogh was already fond of painting scenes depicting nature. Whether it is nature in her unstable, tumultuous form or nature in its serene grandeur, Van Gogh had tremendous respect for forces beyond his control. He liked to paint stormy skies just as much as he liked to paint calm, starry nights. Art critics liked to point out some important symbolism in the painting. They point out to the crows, which is one of the central subjects in the painting. Much of the debate centers on whether the crows are heading towards the direction of the painter or whether they’re actually flying away from him. The nuances of the painting hinge on how one interprets these crows. The paths, art historians say, echo the paths that Van Gogh took in his own life. They seem winding, almost sporadic and headed for nowhere, symbolizing Van Gogh’s own twisting journeys in his life.
Regardless of the many mysteries surrounding this painting, Wheat Field with Crows still remains one of Van Gogh’s most loved paintings. It has constantly been reproduced in the form of wall hangings, wall decor and even tapestries. These reproductions are able to capture the beautiful range of subjects that Van Gogh has skillfully applied in his own canvas. His sketches are the product of a brilliant, sublime mind somewhat plagued by inner demons.
Wheat Field with Crows is subject to so much interpretation that it makes for the perfect wall hanging especially in home areas such as dining rooms or living rooms. This conversation piece can surely bring life, intensity and a unique charm to any surrounding.