Water Lily Pond: Claude Monet

Claude Monet was one of the most prominent Impressionist painters. Impressionism surfaced in the late nineteenth century after World War One and during the period known as the "Age of Anxiety." Impressionism was a sort of rebellious form because Impressionists were discontent with regular teaching. Impressionists strove to show things realistically and as they really were. They painted things in their correct colors and used small brush strokes to show reflected light. They used traditional and realistic colors and their compositions were more casual than traditional art.

Monet's Water Lily Pond is one of his most famous paintings. It is a good example of Impressionism because it looks like a realistic scene and showcases the techniques and philosophy of the Impressionists. For example, between the water lilies in the pond you can see the reflection of the trees above in a realistic reflection. The lighting and shadows play over the bridge that stretches over the pond. After the war, people saw things as they were because they were disillusioned by the horrors of the war. An entire generation was lost to the war because of deaths, shell-shock and numerous other fates. Even though this painting by Monet is not typical of art during the war it still shows society's opened eyes and awareness of the world around them.