Impressionist and Romantic painting: Monet and Delacroix compared

¶ … U.S.A., Germany and England were the industrial and technological centers in the nineteenth century, than France was the dictator of culture and art tendencies that set cultural standard of the modern world in art, literature, sculpture and fashion. French painters and artists experimented with colors, shape and themes of works presenting works that reflected different aspects of every day life. Still the main merit of French painters of the nineteenth century and in general of most of their contemporaries is that they developed and established a new concept of art, which was democratic, available and understandable by representatives of different classes as it demonstrated universal values and had a universal esthetic meaning.

The paper discusses two paintings of French artists that refer to different historical periods of art history, to different art styles and that present different themes. The first painting is "Liberty Leading the People" by Eugene Delacroix, work that glorified French revolution of 1830; and the second one is Claudet Monet's "Boulevard des Capucines," which showed the daily life of Paris center of art and culture. The first painting refers to French progressive Romanticism, and the second one to Impressionism.

Eugene Delacroix, was born April,26-1798. He studied art in 1818-22 in Paris. In his painting he presented progressively new themes (from history, literature), full of dramatism and realism which embodied ideals of freedom, liberty on the hand with firm and courageous characters. He contributed to French art by presenting impulsive manner of painting characterized by unusual expressiveness of color, diversity of semitones and reflexes. (according to Painting and the Journal of Eugene Delacroix)

In 1831 Eugene Delacroix showed his "Liberty Leading the People" in Paris salon, which was dedicated to "three glorious days" of July revolution, 1830. The power, democratic manner and brave artistic manner of the painting caused shock and admiration of viewers. The painting was quickly returned to Delacroix as government officials were afraid of its revolutionary appeal. It was returned to public in 1855 when it came to Louvers. Inspired by the revolutionary events of 1830, Delacroix decided to reflect his impressions in the painting that would demonstrate the main value of the nation the seek of freedom and democracy. This power is presented in the image of young beautiful woman, who leads the crowd of rise. Her fine image, energy and internal freedom may compare her to Greek goodness of victory Nica. She holds French flag in one hand and a gun in another, Phrygian cap on her head is an ancient symbol of emancipation from slavery. In order to outline her leading image, Delacroix pictured her in the center and made her imaged the lithest in the composition. She is like the source of light, which lights the thirst of freedom in the crowd. The boy, which stands next to the young woman is full of enthusiasm and in his seek for freedom he even forestalls the woman. Realism of the painting is defined by the expressiveness of people, their firm faces and their motion. Because people are shown in motion, the painting looks more realistic and impressive.

Delacroix was called a "romanticist" for his searches of individual character, which was contrary to the classical ideal of beauty, for his demands of freedom in art, and passion to bright colors. Romanticism of Delacroix is indivisible from struggle for liberty, glorification of heroism and beauty of courageous and active human.(from Painting and the Journal of Eugene Delacroix)

French artists of the end of the nineteenth century had changed their priorities in art, giving advantage to reflection of colored reality of surrounding world on their paintings. They were impressionists and the main concept of their art was refection of direct individual impression of reality on canvas. Their landscapes astonish by bright gamma of colors, purity of tones and refection of light. Te father of impressionism is considered to be Claude Monet (1840-1926).

Monet started his creative activity being young by making scratches and cartoons for a local frame-maker. He took classes of art from Eugene Budent, who taught him lessons of work on open air. Later he goes to Paris and enters the circle of Paris painters. Because he had no financial support he enters French army and after military service he continues painting with Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, Edgar Degas, Gustave Caillebotte, Frederic Bazille who were experimenting and searching for a new style different from official canons of art.

Technique developed by Monet and other impressionists was unique and innovative. Monet realized that a painting which was made on the open air, has a unique freshness and liveliness, which is unable to be achieved when working in the workshop, where artist plans the painting beforehand. Monet advised artists to rebuild the impression of image perception substituting routine objects by some naive and lively images. According to Monet, it would create a powerful impulse of impressions that would reflect the current moment on the painting. Monet set a task to reflect every current moment, every instant of reality on his paintings. For that time it was a revolutionary concept, which put aside his works from realism of earlier painters. In order to achieve these results, painter needed new technique. Monet technique was characterized by use of short brush, bold dots, touches, zigzags, etc. Monet worked simultaneously over the whole space of painting, saying that "the first layer of paint has to cover the whole space and that it doesn't matter how crude would it be." (according to Impressionism: Reflections and Perceptions) "Boulevard des Capucines" is a brightest embodiment of Claude Monet painting technique. He painted "Boulevard des Capucines" in 1873, at that time it was already the center of cultural; life of Paris, the favorite place of artists and the place where painters exhibited their works. Loamier brothers made a fist cinema demonstration on Boulevard des Capucines in 1896 as well. So this Boulevard was an embodiment of current life, of fashion and of democratic aesthetic views on late nineteenth century France.