Monet and Music

Up bright and early this morning, it was another stunning day for the hour and a half bus ride to Giverny, the home and gardens of Impressionist artist Claude Monet.

My 2006 visit had been the stimulus for a presentation to my high school French class on Monet and his visionary style. I had been able to combine a few notes from Art History with a little français and my very own pictures from this place. I was anxious to return with wider, sharper eyes.

The gardens were filled with so many different kinds of beautiful flowers, and it was nice to have the time to take a leisurely walk through them. As we passed by the now famous water lily gardens that Monet painted so often, it struck me again how revolutionary Monet and the Impressionists were - how they painted things not as they were in reality but how they were seen in their minds' eye. Monet painted the same pond hundreds of times, yet each painting was unique. His use of color and light were extraordinary, and it was wonderful to be in the place where his genius came to fruition.

As I reflect on the "reality" of nature and "impressions" of it, I recall a discussion during my intro. course in Theology at Villanova. When any person, regardless of his or her faith tradition views a beautiful painting, especially by an artist as accomplished as Monet, none doubts the existence of its author, the artist. Yet, in society today, so many hold the view that the "composition" that inspires the painting exists simply by coincidence, an "accident of nature," no author, artist required, just a set of random events. For me, at least, the beauty of this place is powerful proof of the existence of God.

My Photo Reality

His Painting Impression

My Photo Reality

His Painting Impression

Our free afternoon went by quickly, with lunch, perfume shopping for me and my mom, and even a quick nap! Soon, it was time for our concert at the American Church, which has several magnificent choirs and is widely known as sponsor of a wide variety of choral and cultural programs. The extra rest must have done the choir a world of good, because the evening's concert was clearly the best of the tour!

Knowing that we had given a good performance, we headed back to the hotel for the evening, excited to “sleep in” the next morning until 8 a.m. I can’t believe that this has become an operative definition of "sleeping in!" Even more so, I couldn’t believe that the next day would be our last in France. These two weeks have flown by!