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| Monet, Les Nymphéas, 1918-1926, l'Orangerie |
Although I often overlook how a painting is presented, the way a piece of art is displayed can affect how the viewer sees it. At the Musée de l’Organgerie, Claude Monet’s water lilies, Les Nymphéas, are exhibited in an unconventional way. The large paintings mold with the curving of the walls since the two rooms that the works are displayed in are ovals. These stark rooms create a contrast between the white walls and the bright paintings. In addition, only natural light is used in the exhibit, coming down from the ceiling’s singular skylight. The skylight is also oval shaped, mirroring the shape of the rooms. Fluctuations in natural light affect how the viewer sees the paintings. The day I visited the museum was somewhat cloudy. As a result, when I was in the exhibit, I could see how the artwork changed from when it was sunny outside to when it became cloudy especially in relation to the colors used. Since these paintings were made en plein air, I think that Monet would have wanted people to see his work without artificial light in order for the viewer to have a better sense of how the lilies looked in nature.
In addition, where the viewer stands in relation to the paintings also affects how one sees the art. Within the galleries, there is a long bench for people to sit on while looking at the works. The location of these benches is crucial for viewing the paintings because the onlooker is further away from the canvas. From this perspective, the paintings’ subject is quite obvious. When the viewer gets closer, the images become more abstract. As I approached one of the paintings, the subject became unclear. I lost what I was seeing because to me, the painting was no longer water lilies but a solid background with pastel colors swirled all over the canvas. Although he used oils, the texture of the paint made it seem like Monet used crayons because some of the strokes are somewhat waxy. The swirls of color mixed on the canvas are characteristics of Impressionism, a movement that Monet was part of. If I had stayed on the bench, I would have never noticed the differences in how one can see a work of art depending on their location.
In my opinion, the most remarkable thing about the Musée de l’Orangerie is the tranquil setting created by the combination of the gallery with Les Nymphéas themselves. The peaceful environment of the exhibit correlates with the purpose of the works. Monet gave these paintings to French president, Georges Clemenceau, immediately after the end of WWI, as a tribute to peace.[1] These works acknowledge two different types of peace—the peace that ended WWI and the inner peace inside of people. If the paintings were displayed in a more elaborate setting, they would be overwhelmed, losing a part of their overall beauty and the calming affect that they create.
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