I spy the National Gallery and Monet

May 31st, 2022

After reflecting on my time at the National Gallery, I have not only contrasted the museum to the Tate Modern’s, but I have ultimately found a deeper appreciation for older pieces of art. Having taken two art history courses in my life, I have realized that it is easy to think of a work of art as cool, interesting, or even sometimes a bit dull when it is not directly in front of you. However, when walking around the gallery today having these pieces right before my eyes, there were times where I was truly taken aback by how beautiful these pieces are. At least for myself, I did not truly grasp the beauty of the works – and the talent of the artists themselves – until I was standing a few feet away from them. Prior to today and this trip, I never would have thought that I would have the opportunity to see the Arnolfini Portrait or one of Monet’s Water Lilies. It is definitely a time that I will always remember, as I was able to surround myself with some of the most beautiful paintings in the world.

Two pieces that really struck out to me were Monet’s Irises and Monet’s Snow Scene at Argenteuil. While both are impressionist pieces, these two works pulled different emotions from me. Both emotions were positive, but I found it interesting how differently they were drawn and what Monet sought to create from the two pieces. Firstly, Irises (one of my favorite flowers) was incredibly fun to look at and analyze. The movement in the piece is incredible, as I saw the irises flowing with the wind. The level of nature in the work is breathtaking, with the rich purples, greens, and blues working together to create a serene portrait of a field of irises.

However, the painting of Snow Scene at Argenteuil depicts a snowy day at Argenteuil. This painting features people walking along a town with buildings in the background of the painting. This work has depth, as the viewer can see the transition of the painting as they look at the foreground compared to the background. This work elicited a strong emotion of nostalgia for me, as I connect snowy days in the town with ones of my own growing up. The white and blue colors in the painting work well together to establish a scene of beauty. I feel as though this piece does not have the amount of movement that Irises has, but the piece does not fall short of beauty.

-Maggie Martin