A Garden Moment--in another garden

Yesterday, I visited another garden--Monet's garden at Giverny.  Not in France, but at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut.  The exhibit showed only nine pieces of his artwork focusing on the water lilies in his garden pond, but it was truly a garden moment for a variety of reasons.

One interesting aspect of the exhibit was that it incorporated black-and-white photographs of the artist and his garden as he experienced it --and an incredible black-and-white film of Monet painting in the garden.

Claude Monet, June 1926

as well as color photographs of the garden over the years in a slide show format viewed from comfortable seating while listening to soft music.

Monet's garden at Giverny today

It was intriguing to see the wisteria on the Japanese-syle footbridge grow full and be trimmed back over the years; or to see the wisteria grow only on the lower part of a bridge span, and then, to see a pergola-style structure above the bridge covered with lavendar bloom.  The trees in the background grew from saplings to monumental sculptures, especially the willows.  The water lilies seem to stay the same over time, but probably take much care to maintain so that they don't overrun the pond. Reflections are a necessary component of the garden and the paintings--and the experience of his garden and his art.

Water lily maintenance at Giverny

Another aspect that made the visit a garden moment was that, as a gardener, I could understand Monet's obsession with the beauty of the waterlilies as a flower and, as an artist, I could sympathize with Monet's compulsion to capture the moment and the beauty by trying over and over to "get it right." This piece was from a private collector and was not signed--a hint that Monet might not have considered it finished.



Monet's Water Lilies with Reflection of Tall Grasses



It was this piece that brought to mind my art instructor's voice:  "No, the color is not right.  That place where the grasses grow is muddy and full of garden debris. It needs to be darker and more rich in the colors of decaying vegetation. The reflection is more grey and cool than the actual grass."

A section of my pastel of Monet's Garden

A true garden moment!  Understand the environment and the soil and the process of growing (including decay).  Observe carefully.  Notice color and light, contrast and highlights, depth and perspective. Trying to capture a garden moment seems impossible--until you see a Monet.