Oscar Claude Monet´S Water Lilies - Putting a Price on Genius
While the most expensive oil painting in the world might be the work of Jackson Pollock, it seems the price tag does not always reflect the artist or the works popularity. That is, in the context of best-selling wall art reproductions of deceased artists. Research by notable artistic societies such as the Fine Art Guild suggest that the Impressionist Landscapes of painter Oscar Claude Monet are more popular choices of reproduction wall art than that of artists such as Van Gogh, Matisse, Klimt and even Picasso. Who curiously, all have art works ranked higher than Monet does on the list of €The Worlds Most Expensive Oil Paintings€. The most expensive oil painting by Monet ever sold was Le Bassin aux Nymph©as (Water Lily Pond) at Christies, London in 2008. A private buyer paid US$80.5million for this, one of Monets famous Water Lily series of oil paintings. When comparing this to the $135million paid for Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt in 2006 the difference is significant: Although most significantly it highlights the eternal dilemma and damnation of putting a price on genius.
The Water Lilies Series
Indeed, it seems the popularity of Oscar Claude Monet, more than one century later is greater than ever. Le Bassin aux Nymph©as - Water Lily Pond - created in 1919 is one of a series of two hundred and fifty oil paintings. Every version reflects scenes from Monets Lily pond at his famous house in Giverny. For around thirty years, Monets Lily pond became the oeuvre of his work. He poured his energies into it, its development and upkeep as well as into his work. Today, Monets beautiful gardens and the bridge over the Lily pond is a landscape recognized and revered worldwide.
Interestingly, Monet created many of the Water Lily series of oil paintings while cataracts affected his vision. After the death of Monets wife in 1914, Monet developed cataracts. The condition slowly worsened over the years until 1923 when the artist underwent surgery to remove them from both eyes. Monets oil paintings created during this time take on a reddish hue, which is typical for people with the condition. However, Le Bassin aux Nymph©as - Water Lily Pond - created in 1919 does not have a reddish hue. This is because after surgery Monet actually reworked some of his later paintings to reduce the red hues. In addition, the operation may have left Monets eyes with sensitivity to ultraviolet not normally perceived by the lens of the eye. Ultraviolet light can have physical as well as chemical affects on people: Effectively, this sensitivity could have literally made Monets world glow! Hence, the depiction of color and light in Monets oil paintings is unequaled.
. A World Apart
Unquestionably, Oscar Claude Monet is the most recognized Impressionist Painter of the twentieth century: The €Father of Impressionism€ and so the most significant member of what was (and still is) a most significant group of artists. Unquestionably, the Impressionists marked a cornerstone for what would become the modern arts. Monets perception of the landscapes he painted was sensitive and responsive to the light and color that filled this artists world. There are Impressionist artists considered comparable, but never equal. Monet set precedence for the avant-garde and his work has influenced many notable artists of the twentieth century. Nevertheless, Monets vision and style is unique. A world apart from the rest, his work is instantly and utterly recognizable: Unquestionably, when we see €a Monet€ we know instantly, it is €a Monet€.
A Phenomenon
Monets Water Lily oil paintings are in the public domain and exhibited worldwide: France, America and the UK. Highly revered and valued in the art world, shortly after Monets death the Mus©e de l'Orangerie built an oval exhibition room to permanently display eight of Monets huge Water Lily oil paintings together - side by side. The `popularity of Monets Water Lilies is phenomenal. In 1999, the Mus©e de l'Orangerie brought sixty of the paintings together, transporting them from all over the world for the exhibition: Indeed, when something and someone are valued that much it is undoubtedly hard to put a price on that value. Concerning the arts however, it is ultimately a necessary requirement...
The Water Lilies Series
Indeed, it seems the popularity of Oscar Claude Monet, more than one century later is greater than ever. Le Bassin aux Nymph©as - Water Lily Pond - created in 1919 is one of a series of two hundred and fifty oil paintings. Every version reflects scenes from Monets Lily pond at his famous house in Giverny. For around thirty years, Monets Lily pond became the oeuvre of his work. He poured his energies into it, its development and upkeep as well as into his work. Today, Monets beautiful gardens and the bridge over the Lily pond is a landscape recognized and revered worldwide.
Interestingly, Monet created many of the Water Lily series of oil paintings while cataracts affected his vision. After the death of Monets wife in 1914, Monet developed cataracts. The condition slowly worsened over the years until 1923 when the artist underwent surgery to remove them from both eyes. Monets oil paintings created during this time take on a reddish hue, which is typical for people with the condition. However, Le Bassin aux Nymph©as - Water Lily Pond - created in 1919 does not have a reddish hue. This is because after surgery Monet actually reworked some of his later paintings to reduce the red hues. In addition, the operation may have left Monets eyes with sensitivity to ultraviolet not normally perceived by the lens of the eye. Ultraviolet light can have physical as well as chemical affects on people: Effectively, this sensitivity could have literally made Monets world glow! Hence, the depiction of color and light in Monets oil paintings is unequaled.
. A World Apart
Unquestionably, Oscar Claude Monet is the most recognized Impressionist Painter of the twentieth century: The €Father of Impressionism€ and so the most significant member of what was (and still is) a most significant group of artists. Unquestionably, the Impressionists marked a cornerstone for what would become the modern arts. Monets perception of the landscapes he painted was sensitive and responsive to the light and color that filled this artists world. There are Impressionist artists considered comparable, but never equal. Monet set precedence for the avant-garde and his work has influenced many notable artists of the twentieth century. Nevertheless, Monets vision and style is unique. A world apart from the rest, his work is instantly and utterly recognizable: Unquestionably, when we see €a Monet€ we know instantly, it is €a Monet€.
A Phenomenon
Monets Water Lily oil paintings are in the public domain and exhibited worldwide: France, America and the UK. Highly revered and valued in the art world, shortly after Monets death the Mus©e de l'Orangerie built an oval exhibition room to permanently display eight of Monets huge Water Lily oil paintings together - side by side. The `popularity of Monets Water Lilies is phenomenal. In 1999, the Mus©e de l'Orangerie brought sixty of the paintings together, transporting them from all over the world for the exhibition: Indeed, when something and someone are valued that much it is undoubtedly hard to put a price on that value. Concerning the arts however, it is ultimately a necessary requirement...
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