Impressionism is only direct sensation. All great painters were less or more impressionists. It is mainly a question of instinct, and much simpler than [John Singer] Sargent thinks.
CLAUDE MONETImpressionism is only direct sensation. All great painters were less or more impressionists. It is mainly a question of instinct, and much simpler than [John Singer] Sargent thinks.
CLAUDE MONETIt’s enough to drive you crazy, trying to depict the weather, the atmosphere, the ambience.
CLAUDE MONETOne can do something if one can see and understand it.
CLAUDE MONETI’m enjoying the most perfect tranquillity, free from all worries, and in consequence would like to stay this way forever, in a peaceful corner of the countryside like this.
CLAUDE MONETI’m knocked out, I’ve never felt so physically and mentally exhausted, I’m quite stupid with it and long only for bed; but I am happy.
CLAUDE MONETNever, even as a child, would I bend to a rule.
CLAUDE MONETEverything changes, even stone.
CLAUDE MONETNo one but myself knows the anxiety I go through and the trouble I give myself to finish paintings which do not satisfy me and seem to please so very few others.
CLAUDE MONETThanks to my work everything’s going well; it’s a great consolation.
CLAUDE MONETI’m in a foul mood as I’m making stupid mistakes… This morning I lost beyond repair a painting with which I had been happy, having done about twenty sessions on it; it had to be thoroughly scraped away… what a rage I was in!
CLAUDE MONETEvery day I discover more and more beautiful things. It’s enough to drive one mad. I have such a desire to do everything, my head is bursting with it.
CLAUDE MONETWhen it is dark, it seems to me as if I were dying, and I can’t think any more.
CLAUDE MONETThe more I live, the more I regret how little i know.
CLAUDE MONETLots of people will protest that it’s quite unreal and that I’m out of my mind, but that’s just too bad.
CLAUDE MONETMy life has been nothing but a failure.
CLAUDE MONETDespite my exhaustion I have a devil of a time getting to sleep because of the rats above my bed and a pig who lives beneath my room.
CLAUDE MONET