Glenn Michael Morley

Monet Architecture Exposition

I visited the Monet exhibition today and it was quite good - several new works (for me) and some were impressive as can be expected - there is this thing with Monet paintings that I suggest you try next time you see his works - begin your viewing directly in front <0.5m distance close to his work to see and admire the multiple colours he uses and brush texture detailing - then you MUST stand quite far back - perhaps 3-4 m and allow your eyes to focus and you will see the 'same'painting in a new light - then try this unusual perspective it is something I noticed in the Guggenheim gallery with his Gare St Lazaire work - change your stance to about 1m and view the painting off to the right with a 30 degree angle to wall - then change  again and do the same from the left side - you will see astounding depth of a 3D variety that is not visible from the other two perspectives - you also may well see a 'new painting' from each side as it will literally come alive to your minds eye - the reason is based on the texture and style of his painting - different angles of viewing give off and reflect different colours as many of his works were quite heavy in their paint application with strong and deep texture - I would say of these the least satisfying manner to view a Monet painting is the first up-close proximity directly in front - yet most people view his paintings in this manner - the skewed side perspective does not work with every one of his paintings - on those where he used a different technique or a flat-brush style you will not see this effect - but try these 4 different perspectives the next time you get a chance to see his works and you will come to better appreciate his work - as I said to a colleague - Monet may not be the greatest painter ever but .... whom was better? - also - notice his use of rose petal pink in many of his sky motifs and unusual blue hues in many of his ground settings - they are subtle and almost imperceptible unless you look for them - a bit of Monet eye trickery with colours