Lilac Irises 1917

Claude Monet made this painting, Lilac Irises, with oil on canvas. Monet was dedicated to capturing the fleeting qualities of light and atmosphere, and we can see this in the way he built up the painting in layers of brushstrokes. Think about Monet at his easel, mixing colors and applying them to the canvas with varying degrees of pressure and speed. Look closely, and you can see that some areas are more thickly painted than others, creating a sense of depth and texture. The lilac and green hues are applied loosely and intuitively, capturing a sense of movement and growth. Monet used these particular color pigments to create a tranquil scene, with soft purples and greens blending seamlessly. We also have to remember that Monet was working at a time when new pigments were becoming available, thanks to advances in industrial chemistry. It is fascinating to think that, even in this seemingly naturalistic painting, we can see the influence of industry, labor, and mass production. And this reminds us that every work of art is inextricably linked to the social and economic conditions in which it was made.