Political Impressionism

            Although both have similar sounding names, Monet and Manet were two artists that had distinct artistic styles. Monet was born in Paris and trained under academic artists, but developed his own type of style. His friends encouraged him to keep going with the type of artistic style that he conveyed in his first work; from this came impressionism. Monet and many other impressionist painters portrayed the lives of middle and upper French class citizens. The scenes would entail peaceful relaxing and cheerful themes. Manet also learned many of his techniques through academic training, but also developed his own style as well. As the socialist movements were taking place Manet used this social change to add a sort of message to his works. Manet’s works portrayed many scenes of modern life just like Monet, but Manet had a more controversial side to it. Although both the artists have different approaches to their art, Monet and Manet have some similar artistic styles that can be analyzed in Monet’s The Rue Montorgueil and Manet’s The Rue Mosnier with Flags. Both these paintings depict the French festival of June 30^th 1878 celebrating the birth of the French Republic.

            In The Rue Montorgueil Monet the festival is shown from an aerial perspective. On both sides there seem to be an array of buildings adorned in the flags of France. There are masses of people, so this indicates that this is a massive and joyous celebration, this ties well with Monet’s style, he preferred to depict scenes in joyous and happy moments. Manet’s The Rue Mosnier with Flags pictures a different scene. Manet’s painting portrays the painting in a more realist and modernist approach. The buildings are still decorated with flags but there is not enough energy that is reached in Monet’s painting. The streets are almost empty, but for a few upper class citizens indicated by their attire and horse drawn carriages. The one thing that does separate Manet’s work with Monet is the left half of his painting. A male figure is shown with crutches, one foot and cloaked in worn out attire. This man could very well be a soldier that fought during the French Revolution. He is walking close to what seems is a rundown fence. Manet unlike Monet was not afraid to portray the reality of modern life. Monet painted pretty pictures to make you feel relaxed, but Manet painted to get a message across and to show the reality of modern life. Manet’s work pictures the harsh reality that many men were wounded because of the revolution and even though they made big sacrifices, their work was for nothing since the rich and privileged still controlled the social system. Monet on the contrary wanted to depict the festivities of the celebration and the happiness at the moment in the scene.

            Although both have different interpretations of the French festival there are some artistic similarities. Both Monet and Manet used quick light broad brushstrokes to make their compositions. In this way both artists achieved trying to create an impressionist painting, to capture a feeling, and moment in time. Monet’s use of color depicts his painting as warm and inviting, while Manet’s is cold and very uninhibited. Manet’s brushstrokes though seem to be not as quick as Monet’s because I believe that he was trying to raise an issue, to have the viewer think about the problems of modern society, while Monet’s use of brushstrokes only wants the viewer to feel the intensity of the celebration at the moment in time. Although both are great compositions, I prefer Manet’s because I like art that informs the viewer or makes the viewer think critically about social problems. Monet only wants to show the political celebration as a sort of propaganda. He is not concerned with the problems of that time only the moment in which the people of France are celebrating.