1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

"Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse"

Rachel BaigJanuary 29, 2016

The most beautiful gardens of all times are the subject of a new art exhibition in London. From Claude Monet, the founding father of Impressionism, to Matisse, one of the most famous expressionists - all are on display.

https://p.dw.com/p/1HleQ
Ausstellung Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse EINSCHRÄNKUNG
Image: Courtesy of The Hispanic Society of America, New York

Claude Monet, one of the most famous French artists of all time, once said: "Maybe I owe it to flowers that I became an artist." That is now the focus of a new exhibition.

"Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse" at the Royal Academy of Arts in London is an impressive example of how the artistic representation of green areas has evolved over the years. More than 120 works depict the ideal garden from the 1860s to the 1920s. Of them, 35 are by Claude Monet, who especially loved painting water lilies.

At the same time, the exhibition reveals a historical change in concept of art itself. Art transformed - from a precise representation of reality to the revelation of what was going on inside the artist. That is shown using the example of untouched nature.

The exhibition runs from January 30 until April 20.