I was able to see the Monet exhibit when it included all his pieces. It was an amazing show. But this picture always struck me as being so incredible. It doesn't show it online very well, so I recommend if you ever get a chance to see it at a museum that you do so.
But I will do my best to describe some of the amazing things in this painting.
When you see it in person, you can see shadowy figures in the background. Almost as if he carefully painted angels coming to take her away. It's how he played with shadows and light that created those hidden angels in the background. Ironically, it was painted as the morning sun entered the room just as she was his special sunbeam, but it also was an allegory of the mourning to come, because like the morning sun comes in, it also leaves--leaving the afternoon shadows and the evening darkness in its wake.
You know how you can move around a room and see different things in a painting? The light shows things from one view but not from another. Or the eyes follow you around, no matter where you go.
It's like that with this painting. You can move around the room and see one angel or move around the room and there were two or three.
Also, for Monet, it was rare for him to put so much detail in a person's features, and yet he did so on Camille as she lay there dying.
When you see the painting up close, you will be amazed by both the eerie feelings it evokes, but also you'll have an intense sensation that there were really angels there taking care of her and readying her for her departure from earth. too.
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Here's something else I remembered. Look in the right hand corner up top, towards that dark corner. When your eyes catch it just right, you can also see Camille's face as if she's leaving her body.
In re-reading my post, I think I should have focused as much on the shadows in the background where it looks like Camille's soul slipping away.
Like the angels...when you move around and focus on different areas of the canvass, you can see faces in the background. Faces that look like Camille in different stages of sickness, grieving, and death.
You know...now that I am looking and thinking about the picture more, I'm trying to remember if it was angels you could see or if it was just images of her soul dying away.
Unfortunately, looking online isn't helping any because it is just so much clearer and intricate in person.
OMG!
I love Monet, but I have never seen this one.
That is one godawfully creepy picture.
Note to self- do not let an artist near my deathbed.
You know, that whole light shadow thing... It really makes you wonder exactly what he saw in them.
All of his paintings are so occupied with it, it is almost like the images themselves are an afterthought.
Just something to dapple with shadow.
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