Dream On!

Dreams of Giverny

So many people dream of going to Paris, but not me.  Oh yes - I dream of going to France - but not to Paris really, although I wouldn't mind seeing it just once, I suppose.

Rather, I dream of going to Giverny and seeing where Claude Monet lived and walked.  Of all the artists that ever lived, he is one of my favourites if not my very favourite.  Ohhhh to see his pond and feel the sunshine on my face where he has been!

I was first introduced to him through my college Art Professor, Savin (if I remember correctly) who took us all by bus down to the Chicago Institute of Fine Art.  Monet's work was being featured there and I fell in love immediately-- have not stopped since.

Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies
Claude Monet, 1899

I love all the Impressionists really - what they did for art, artists and viewers by bringing bold full colour to paintings was something remarkable and incredible.  It was a movement of artistic freedom never to be lost again ... and they paid the price for it too at the time with ridicule and disdain.   They paved the way for all impressionism, post impressionism, cubism, and modern art.  

How blessed we are that they saw and envisioned a new form of art that today we take for granted.  I have no end of respect for all of them ...but Claude Monet has my heart.  :-)

My health and immobility issues now restrict travel but my dreams will live on til the day I'm gone from this earth too.  I hope Mr. Monet is there in that other world for me to sit and visit with a spell.