Two Trees in a Meadow 1886

Claude Monet painted this oil on canvas, titled "Two Trees in a Meadow", during his time in France. It is an exemplar of Impressionism, a style rooted in the social and economic shifts of late 19th-century Europe. Monet moved away from traditional academic painting, which had been fostered by institutions like the École des Beaux-Arts. Instead, he chose to depict everyday life, in en plein air. The image, with its concentration on light and fleeting moments, reflects a changing society. The rise of the bourgeoisie, the growth of leisure time, and a rejection of the rigid social hierarchies of the past are all present in this landscape. To understand "Two Trees in a Meadow," we can consult exhibition records, critical reviews, and personal letters from Monet. Such research illuminates the social and institutional contexts that shaped both the artist and his art.