Monet
by Jackie Wullschläger
A remarkable telling of the life and times of Monet, his art, his life, his struggles, his love. Monet's life was not a simple telling, much of the time he was counting pennies, or begging for funds to continue. He was one of the first Painters that used impressionism. His reasons for it vary from his coterie of artists. He struggled for notoriety, but also funds to care for his family.
This book shows the many personal struggles of Monet. His financial struggles, his emotional tragedy the loss of a child, loss of a wife. This book focuses on how each of these things created his art work. Not just the movements, but for inspiration. Explaining the background of many promenade pieces that are renown so long after his live.

Really enjoyed this one! I should have read it so much sooner! But I don’t regret it. This maybe a new obsession! I love the characters, plot, etc.

Thank you Knopf and Netgalley for this advanced copy!
What an incredible biography of one of the most influential painters of the 20th century. I've been a Monet fan since I saw his paintings as a child and I appreciated how Wullschlager dug into his life while still focusing on his painting and the rise of the Impressionists. Wullschlager balances details with excellent story-telling, giving us a sense of time, place, and how Monet's work fit into all of it. A real treat, this was great.

I like how the author each chapter explained about his life and why he was painting it. M o n t went through a lot of hard times especially when he married. But he kept true to his visions of being a great painter. This was interesting, how he fell for one of his friends.Wife and they start an affair. It also talks about the times when the french were going through a difficult government shift and as well as W a r one. He served in the military for a while and then came home. His son also served as well. This was a very interesting book because he had to borrow a lot of money from people just to survive but he did it. He also met writers as well. You love the French toast. Especially many Happy days there. He had to go to england as well because of the turmoil in france. The chapters explained why these paintings came about. He became famous with the americans as well and they came over to visit him as well. It was a very interesting book to look how a painter could do so much. This was an I IMP RSS IOO ISN painting at its highest Point. They struggled in the beginning , but the as they made money , they lived comfortable lives. Very interesting book.How you got to The other side of M o m e t

I first learned about this book from a review in the Times of London. My interest was piqued so I was completely delighted when NetGalley offered me access to this title. Having recently seen the exhibit Paris 1874 at DC’s National Gallery has left me thinking even more about Monet and the ways in which his work (that we now take for granted) was revolutionary and extraordinary.

This book offers a deep dive. It is long at over 900 pages so may not be for the casual art lover. However, for those who are interested, this is a rich and detailed work. Readers will learn about Monet both as the artist and the man. There is much primary source material that brings readers up close to Monet’s life.

Highly recommended to those interested in this period of French art. They, like me will enjoy learning about the art, the women who influenced Monet and the many artistic talents with whom he was in contact.

Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor as well as NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

The Impressionist painter Claude Monet I knew from paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of art was upended by the reality of Giverny and other paintings I viewed in Paris. Giverny was the revelation that here lived and breathed a real person, capturing the sights and the feelings of his garden, pond, the life around him. In MONET by Jackie Wullschläger, I was introduced to the real man in all his messy, passionate, intensely creative and productive life. While the book is dense reading, it is also pleasurable in how real life is woven into the artistic creations -- there are the wives and muses, the battle for legitimacy in a rigid art world, and daring initiatives in his art and professional conduct described through the deep research and broader perspectives of life and culture, the world of Monet influencing his vision and paintings. As an art history buff, I deeply enjoyed this foray into a fascinating man living in a fascinating and tumultuous time. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

MONET: THE RESTLESS VISION, the biography of Claude Monet is a joy to read. Monet’s life as an artist is portrayed by the author, Jackie Wullschlager. I am interested in reading about Monet's paintings, including those of he made of his wife, Camille, his caricatures, and his paintings of water lilies. The most interesting aspect of this biography, in my opinion, is the exploration of Monet's personal life and his relationship with his wives, Camille and Alice. Thank you, Knopf Pantheon Vintage and Anchor and NetGalley, for a chance to read and review an advance reader copy of MONET: THE RESTLESS VISION..

Jackie Wullschläger's biography Monet: The Restless Vision provides a detailed and well-researched account of Monet's life. Readers are given a lively glimpse into Monet's life through personal letters, photographs, drawings, paintings, caricatures, and other materials. A biography chronicles the life of the artist from his birth until his death. Monet's life is explored through the lens of the era historically, culturally, politically, geographically, and personally by the author. In reading Monet, I learned so much about this great painter.

Monet's life and art are filled with color, love, passion and commitment to family. He is at times the stereotypical self-absorbed artist who lives solely for his art; begging friends and family for money to sustain him. At other times, Monet defies tropes of artists by being a faithful and devoted husband, partner and father to his own children as well as his step children. His perceptions about nature, time, color and light are highlighted in his art. Because there is so much to say about Monet's character and life as well as his art, I expected Jackie Wullschlager's narrative to be enthralling and rich. Instead, her pace dragged. She didn't capture the essence of Monet, simply quoted letters and others' ideas about him without adding any color commentary or analysis which left the narrative flat.

Monet:The Restless Vision is an in depth biography of the founder of Impressionism with a healthy dose of art appreciation included. My one regret was not taking an art appreciation class in college, so this helped fill a void for me. Those with a more in depth knowledge of art may not be as impressed.
I was reading an ARC. Plates of his greatest works are referenced but were not included in the ARC. I can only hope the final book has them. They were small pictures of some works interspersed with the text, all in black and white. So, I consistently had to Google the paintings so I could compare what was being written with the actual work. Wullschlager does a good job describing the paintings and explaining their vision.
I appreciated that Wullschlager gave the reader a strong feel for the times that Monet lived in, going far beyond what was happening in the art world. In fact, I have a better appreciation for how his colors and themes mirrored what was happening in both the world and his life.
This is a well done blend of providing a portrait of the man with explanations of his art. He wasn’t always a likable person, at times overly narcissistic. As with so many artists, he overwhelms his family and friends with demands and expectations.
My thanks to Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage Books for an advance copy of this book.

This book is exceptional. Claude Monet was the father of Impressionism. This book details how that happened, including details about the many ways his life story played out in his artc. Highly recommended. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC; all opinions expressed are my own.

Monet is a pretty thorough look at the painter, though it does seem to go more heavily into details of his life and his professional relationships earlier in his life. While many of his contemporaries and loved ones preceded him in death, it does seem like the last few decades of his life aren't covered to the same level of detail. The biggest challenge that Wullschlager runs into in writing this book is trying to describe Monet's paintings. She does an admirable job with descriptive language, but there's a reason why "a picture is worth a thousand words" is a catchphrase. In the ARC version I read, there are pictures and paintings included, but they are small and in black and white, so there's really only so much they do to bring life to written descriptions. Wullschlager does a good job of being unsparing of Monet when speaking to his life; both his faults and his favorable characteristics are on display. Early in his life he was very passive aggressive and was constantly berating people to give him money. As included in his own words from letters he wrote, it paints an accurate but not so flattering picture of the young artist. As he aged and gained prominence his financial circumstances weren't as dire and not being so dependent on others to maintain his family and lifestyle makes him a much more pleasant person. While this is not a favorable trait, it is impressive that he was faithful to the two women of his life when most of his contemporaries regularly had affairs. He also was incredibly supportive of many of his contemporaries, purchasing their art and providing funds when his own finances were secure. His talent is amazing, and I've always loved his impressionistic work. I have the pleasure of living close enough that I've seen one of his major waterlilies work at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, and the series of works is one of my favorites. It's fascinating to see the personal life that led to the professional paintings. The book did feel a little bit long, and did feel like it could be a little more engaging, but does a great job of giving readers a comprehensive background of the man behind the painting. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I will start out by saying that biographies are not my favorite genre.
I did however enjoy this book though I initially found it pretty dense.
I did think this was a very factual and scholarly presentation of the life of Claude Monet. By the time I finished I really felt I knew him and understood his works much better.
The photos greatly added to the experience.
I especially enjoyed seeing Monet’s interactions with his fellow artists and Impressionists.
Having recently visited Giverny and Monet’s home and gardens this was an especially poignant to me . I would highly recommend both experiences for all art lovers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC to read and review.

Monet: A Restless Vision was a deep dive into the life and work of Claude Monet. Monet has been a favorite of mine for most of my life, so I was really excited to read and learn more about his life! Monet was meticulously researched. You could feel the passion and respect throughout the entire book! I really loved reading this one!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The Restless Vision isn’t just a biography, but a scholarly work that details Monet’s life as a whole. The author uses a wealth of materials, including personal letters, to give us a full understanding of Monet. The book follows the artist’s life from birth to death, describing his life in the context of the times. We see Monet in historical, cultural, creative and personal contexts from his lean years to Giverny.

Monet was a complex figure, and Wullschläger tells the story skillfully. This is an entertaining and informational book Monet admirers will enjoy.

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This book about Monet is a comprehensive account and well-researched. I found it very interesting, especially since I visited his Giverny home. Monet's Garden is one of my favorite places I have ever been to. Recently I viewed many of his paintings at the Musee d'Orsay. Monet and the other Impressionists are among my favorite artists. Thanks, NetGalley for this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. The author has produced a comprehensive account of the life of Claude Monet, thoroughly researched and annotated. He lived during a golden age of French painting and he knew everyone. There are photographs and black and white reproductions of some of his paintings, but there is no color insert of paintings as I would have liked. This should be on the bookshelf of everyone seriously interested in Impressionism and a go-to reference for the study of Monet.

An extremely informative look into the life of the painter whose art has been presented so commonly as the face of impressionism.

The book contains all the information one could possibly ask for about the artist, from his childhood to the inspiration behind his art, his love life, his struggles and the many ways his experiences influenced his art greatly.

Absolutely stellar, and a must read non fiction for 2024

omg thank you netgalley!!! this has a bit everything!!
biography bibliography ART of all sorts monsieur claude monet i feel like i know you now..
4.5 stars rounded up
took a bit of time bec finals szn BUT i love loved this

A definitive and meticulously researched new bio of artist Claude Monet, the father of Impressionism, with notes, bibliography, index, and a host of black and white photos and illustrations. I only wish his work were in color, so we could see the splendor of his Impressionist paintings. Recommended!