It is oil on canvas painting which was exhibited at the Galerie Durand-Ruel, together with the Museum’s Bouquet of Sunflowers. This exhibition was held in Paris in 1883. The painting was exhibited again at the avant-garde artists’ circle Les XX in Brussels in 1886.
Monet had been a passionate gardener between 1878 and 1883. He had employed a number of gardeners who tendered and developed gardens according to colour and contrast. It was these gardens that Monet was to later use to paint the chrysanthemums.
The painting is part of his impressionism works. Monet was the founder and ardent advocate of Impressionism at a time when it was not very popular. The chrysanthemums consist part of Monet’s popular works of impressionism. It brings out clearly his passion for painting inclined towards colour, light, and contrast. The name of the painting “chrysanthemums” refers to a study of colour and contrast with regard to nature as an abstract pattern.
Monet employed his signature technique of heavy brushstrokes in this painting too. This painting was a bit different from the others though. This is due to the fact that it focuses on a small area of the floral composition, as compared to his other painters which always had a large area of focus.
The painting seems to develop a theme of recollecting. Considering that this painting was done by Monet in his late days, the painting brings and aura tranquillity. Monet through this painting seems to suggest that he had done a careful evaluation of his life and work in painting and felt at peace with it. The painting suggests that the painter was having a very close observation of the floral images and was satisfied with what he saw. The painting contains the image of a colourful floral composition.
Monet did tremendous work as far as impressionist painting is concerned. His technique of using heavy brushstrokes and focus on light and contrast rather image failed to attract favour among many people at the time. Monet together with other artists who felt the need to break away from the conventional academic painting techniques of the time teamed up to develop impressionism painting.
Monet worked with painters such as; Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, and Alfred Sisley. He was also inspired to make something new by painters who considered themselves modern painters of the time such as; Manet, Degas, and Caillebotte.
Claude Monet’s paintings were many and vast. Being the founder of Impressionism, he did a lot of paintings. Some of the paintings were very popular and have been held to high acclaim even to date. Among Monet’s popular works include; Water lilies - Monet did this painting series between the year 1896-1926. The painting is regarded as the "Sistine Chapel of Impressionism."
The series consisted of up to 250 pieces of oil on canvas paintings. The painting was had his characteristic impressionist painting technique. One of these paintings fetched 80 million dollars in 2008 at an auction. Amazingly, during the 30 years, Monet spent doing this painting his eyesight had been deteriorating gradually. Regardless he managed to paint one of the most recognized painting series of the 20th century.
Hay-stacks - this was another one of Monet’s popular works. Monet painted the hay-stacks series between the year 1890 and 1891. The series consisted of 25 pieces of oil on canvas paintings. The subject of the paintings was hay-stacks that were around his home at the time.
