Analysis of Japanese bridge of Monet
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Transcript of Analysis of Japanese bridge of Monet
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Rick.Wang
Introduction to Aesthetics: Art and Nature
Thomas. Carroll and Alice.Chuang
2014.4.6
Analysis of Japanese bridge of Monet
In the series of Japanese Bridge, which was started from 1899
and ended up in 1924, what interests me most is the last one.
And this paper is mainly focused on Japanese Bridge, 1924, part of
the paper is going to compare it with other works in different
time.
First I am going to analyze the bridge from imitation
theory. Briefly speaking, imitation theory derived from Plato,
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the basic idea is all works of art are imitations of the
things in our world. So based on this, Japanese Bridge is not out
of the realm of imitation theory. On the one hand, the bridge
is real existence in Monet’s Giverny garden. This provides the
stance for the theory, which means there is a real thing in
Monet’s world. He does’t create a work of art only by
imagination. On the other hand, when we focus on the color and
the shape of Japanese Bridge, we should pay attention to the
details, the imitation of the light and color.
Monet is an artist who is extremely strict in color and
light. In the series of Japanese Bridge,we know none of them is
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the same. For this one, the green and red color that he uses
to imitate the real things beautiful. As an audience, I tend
to say he is showing us the scene of spring. Generally, only
in spring, can we get the beauty as the painting shows. Apart
from this, the relationship between the objects mainly relies
on the light and shadow especially when you have learned some
basic skills for drawing. The only way to make the relations
of the objects perfect is to imitate the real world. That is
why I like to say Monet’s work is located in the range of
imitation theory. Even there are just colorful dots, but some
of them looks light-colored, and some a little dark. It is not
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easy to cope with the relations of light, because it is too
complicated, especially in this work. But Monet does a good
job, and that is a great imitation of the real thing which is
in real world.
The only problem is that if we use imitation theory to
analyze this bridge, we cannot deny that the bridge does not
look real enough. Or more extremely, get close to look this
artwork, you cannot tell what it is only except the colorful
blocks, red and green. If we cannot tell the work is, how can
we say it is imitation? On the contrary, if we know the work
was reproduced in artist’s mind and then express it in a new
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way, it is still the imitation of bridge and that is the point
I choose to stand. As impressionists focus on the painterly
aspects of light and color and become increasingly
abstract(Meyers, 2005). But no matter how abstract it is, it is
still telling people the truth, the real scene that we know
and see.
Imitation theory is the subcategory of representational
theory. Preciously we talked the only problem that the
imitation theory may confront, however, that is the realm
where representation theory works. The basic concept of
representational theory is, when we determine whether a work
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is a work of art, we should know whether it stands for
something. It is no doubt that this work fits the basic
requirement. As we analyze it by means of imitation theory
above and we admit that imitation theory is the subcategory of
representational theory, I like to focus on the problem that
imitation theory meet.
And the colored red dots could be viewed as the flowers,
the green in the water could be seen as the water lilies.
Comparing to the previous work, we know clearly what the work
is, but this one is not clear. However, when we take a long
distance to watch this work, it is the same scene as before
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but totally different in some extent. Each version of the
scene works on simultaneously to capture the exact light and
color at specific times of day (Meyers, 2005). Monet’s
impressional artworks mainly focus on the light and color in
specific time. Especially in his series of works, in different
time, we see the different colored bridge. In his work, the
same subject represents different things. Basically, the
specific color stands for the status of that time being.
Speaking of neo-representational theory, it is easier to
understand this picture. Monet uses color dots to represent
the subjects. If we say there is something the colors are
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about, we do find the meanings. In other words, Monet’s bridge
is not hard to recognize even if it is a little abstract. But
from a distance, the curtain uncovered and then the beauty
comes out. That is real strange but amazing feeling when I saw
this bridge in exhibition.
Monet narrows his world to the boundaries of his own garden
and then to the exclususion of anything else(Danto, 1990). The
story sounds like Sakyamuni’s, who found the truth under
bodhi. Monet shrinks his life spam, but describing the beauty
of the nature that people tend to ignore. Inside of his work,
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the emotion, and the thoughts toward life, waiting for us to
feel.
This part is the main part that I want to address by the
theory which is expression of emotion. In this work, can you
tell what is the shape is? Or in other words, can you
distinguish any lines which are adopted to show the bridge,
and the water lilies? The only things we can see all of the
objects are represented by the color and light. The usage of
color and light means Monet came to a totally different way in
his life. As we know in early days, what makes Monet famous is
his satirical portraits. That is mainly about the usage of
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lines and to construct the objects on canvas or on paper,
artists need to care for the technology, how to use the skills
to finish the work. But at the same time, it limited the means
to express the artist’s emotion.
As John. Rewald says in The history of Impression, Monet tries to
ignore the actual objects extremely; he absolutely abandon the
form and instead he tries to pursue the incredible miracle of
light under the the color gradation. Based on the actual
objects, Monet tends to create different impressions. His work
is starting with reality but ending up with virtuality. In the
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process, Monet abstract the color and light to express the
essence of beauty.
In Buddhism, according to Heart Sutra, “all Dharmas are
empty of characteristics”, and “form itself is emptiness;
emptiness itself is form”. Here in this work, I can feel the
expression based on my understanding. The first impression
when I saw this picture is universe. Especially based on
ancient Chinese culture, the origin of world is chaos. No
flower, no bridge, and water lilies. This Japanese Bridge, is
expressing the same idea to me that time. Monet uses colors to
create a colorful and light blurred world. Monet spends a lot
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of time to explore the relationship between light, color and
air performance results. In visual expression, Monet is
undoubtedly an expert. Japanese Bridge shows his understanding
and explains the relation between color and light.
Simply, this Japanese Bridge is a wonderful work for expressing
the beauty of the natural scene located in Monet’s garden by
means of impressionism way.
But in terms of the artwork, we cannot ignore the events
happened to Monet that time. Japanese Bridge is a series of
artworks. We can see the earlier works are different from this
one. Before, the forms of the objects are easy to distinguish
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and the color is not diverse as this one. That arouse a
doubt--what happened?
According to the record of history, Monet died at 1926 and
the last bridge finished in 1924(House, 1986). In that time, he
had lost his wife and son. Monet himself was old and he was
the only witness of impressionism finally. His companion, like
Cezanne, left him at last. It is no doubt time that Monet was
saddest. Anyone who got through these experience, would show
his strong emotion. But Monet does not want to show his
sorrow, just as he said to his friend in 1914, “It is still
the best way of not thinking about present sorrows ”(1995).
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And in this work, all we can see is the strong lives. What I
can tell from this is Monet’s fortitude and his thinking of
infinity about life, even the universe.
As an audience, what impress me a lot is the red and green
blocks. I can feel the flow of breath of life, the contrary,-
moving and still, life and inanimate.
Bridge, water and water lilies are three objects that we
can see easily Chinese poetry. At a first glance of bridge, I
can feel time is not flowing. No matter what happen, rain,
sunshine, or snow, it just stands there, without talking, or
even moving. You cannot tell whether it is alive or dead. It
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is just watching the world. Under the bridge, the flowing
water. “a mirror of water suffices as to identify itself with
the universe”, Monet is good at to use water to reflect the
nature. Water provides another canvas for him to express his
talents. Water lilies lying at the surface of water, and it
will die soon with the witness of bridge and water. But in the
short time, should life be unbridled,should be like the
sunflower, facing the sunshine, bursting into bloom. Nothing
is permanent in life. Living a colorful life is most
significant.
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As a conclusion, this artwork, does represent Monet’s
talent to use color and light. As the leader of impressionism,
he gave up figure but grasp the core of art, giving the
audience infinite enjoyment. Especially this Japanese Bridge,
arousing me a lot of thinking about life, about the death and
the meaning of being alive. From this image, I can feel the
world connected by a bridge which is inside of our heart. It
will appear only when you get into that status. Also,
throughout Monet’s life, it is a process to prove
impressionism. He is the only who never give up even if in his
most difficult time. The sorrows that a person may go through,
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Monet does get them all. Losing wives, sons and comrades don’t
make Monet lose his faith. He does give up the quick way to be
honored by the current time but he wins the history’s praise.
This Japanese Bridge, as painted in his latter time of life,
arousing me a lot of thinking about life. Besides this, it
opens a window for me to know what impressionism is . It shows
me the diversity of art and pushes me to think of what role is
the most important in art. For now, as I can tell, technical
ways are not but the expression of emotion does matter.
In a short sentence to end this paper, try to get close to
he nature. Everything is there, waiting for us to explore.
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Monet did so and he sacrificed his whole life to chase his
dream. No matter what the future will be, his artwork swill
infinitely locate in human’s culture,including this, Japanese
Bridge, 1924.
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What do I revise for this paper
1. Before, I just wrote a few words to analyze the work by
means of imitation theory, representational they and neo-
representational theory and I did not explain exactly what
they are. So when I revise it, I briefly explain each theory
in a few sentences and based on the core idea, I begin to
analyze the work of art.
2. I just addressed the sentence, like “X is..stands for..”, I
rewrite it in my own words.
3. I forgot to list the origin of some sentences which are not
my own translation.
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4. I subsume the feeling that I get in the expressional
theory, and I tell the reasons.
5. I correct some words which were wrong used.
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6. Work Cited
"A rare look at Claude Monet's glorious gardens of Giverny." Christian Science Monitor
26 Jan. 1995: 11. Academic Search Elite. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
“Claude Monet 1840-1926." Publishers Weekly 257.42 (2010): 41. Academic
Search Elite. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
Danto, Arthur C. "Art." Nation 250.12 (1990): 428-432. Academic Search
Elite. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
House, John. "Impressionism And History The Rewald Legacy." Art History 9.3
(1986): 369-376. Academic Search Elite. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
Meyers, Jeffrey. "Monet In Zola & Proust." New Criterion 24.4 (2005): 41-47.
Academic Search Elite. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
Stuckey, Charles F. "Claude Monet: Impressionism's Leading Light." USA Today
Magazine 124.2606 (1995): 36. Academic Search Elite. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
Wagner, Anne M. "Why Monet Gave Up Figure Painting." Art Bulletin 74.4 (1994):
612. Academic Search Elite. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.