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| Stack of Wheat (1890-91) |
Monet’s
Stacks of Wheat series is an
outstanding achievement both for its time and as a work of art itself. In the
context of Monet’s time, the series is part of a cultural break from the
naturalist art movement. It features the classic French impressionist painting
style of short, blended brushstrokes and an emphasis on light and its various
shadows and highlights. On the other hand, naturalist art, which was considered
to be the best in Monet’s era, features landscapes and still-lifes with neutral
backgrounds and colors as characteristic properties—for instance, a lemon is
always yellow—with very little room for artistic interpretation. Stacks of Wheat is a perfect example of
a break from that movement, where one object is shown to have 15 different
color schemes, displaying no intrinsic color. Additionally, in the context of
late-19th century France, stacks of wheat themselves were viewed as
a mundane aspect of rural life. Although they were evidence of a productive
harvest, haystacks typically blended into the typical scenery of rural France
where Monet resided. Thus, choosing the stacks as subject matter and depicting
them in such a beautiful manner was a significant cultural success.
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| Stacks of Wheat (End of Day, Autumn) (1890-91) |
Artistically,
the Stacks series illuminates the
human themes of perspective and time in a way unlike many other works of art.
The sole objects in these cenes are haystacks in fields—however, they are
depicted in 15 different manners, each of which was constructed with careful
attention to detail. This shows how even a seemingly plain subject matter can
represent beauty, life, and light when seen through a new perspective. Furthermore,
in Monet’s time, haystacks had obvious life-giving and economic importance that
was frequently overlooked. Addressing this oversight, he casted them in several
timeless, transcendent works of art as a clear testament to their underlying
significance. In this way, this series is a demonstration of the theme that
beauty is a value of perception. The Stacks
series is also a more literal representation of the subjectivity of human
perspective. Fifteen people can look at the same two haystacks and have fifteen
unique, personal understandings of them, as evidenced by this series. It is
even possible that one man can have multiple perspectives about an object
simultaneously, as Monet clearly demonstrates in the Stacks series.
Additionally, the collection demonstrates that an object can change in value
and appearance depending on the point in time at which one sees it. In this
case, the weather conditions, time of day, and season all contribute to a
unique representation of a haystack. These factors all stand to show that
meaning and perception is directly influenced by time and context.
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| Stacks of Wheat (Sunset, Snow Effect) (1890-91) |
Monet’s Stacks
of Wheat series is exceptionally culturally and artistically significant;
however, it is also accessible on a personal level. It is for this reason that
I fell in love with the works—the tranquil, picturesque representations of
nature made me feel serene and peaceful, yet simultaneously engaged my
intellect and gave greater insight into the fundamental nature of humankind. In
this way, the Stacks are appreciable
on both a surface level and a deep, philosophical level, which is a true
testament to the skill of the artist, and one of the foremost reasons that I
find the series beautiful. Additionally, I am a very amateur student of art,
yet was able to instantly connect with the works and their representation of
humanity. This is another testament to the skill of the artist in making a
sophisticated piece that is also accessible to the average onlooker like
myself. Finally, I personally am very disconnected from nature and rural life,
and very infrequently take time to reflect upon its significance. However,
Monet depicted a nature scene rich with significance that even a person like
me, who has only once stepped foot on a farm, can appreciate. Overall, Claude
Monet’s Stacks of Wheat is an
accessible yet significant work of art that represents both the conventional
and philosophical definition of beauty.
