Claude Monet

Oscar-Claude Monet (14 November 1840 – 5 December 1926) was a French painter renowned as the founder of impressionist painting, considered a pivotal figure leading to modernism, particularly through his innovative approach to capturing nature as he saw it.[1] Throughout his extensive career, he remained the most dedicated and prolific practitioner of impressionism's philosophy, particularly in plein air landscape painting, which emphasizes capturing immediate perceptions of nature.[2] The term "Impressionism" itself derives from his painting "Impression, soleil levant," first exhibited in 1874 during the "exhibition of rejects," which Monet and his peers organized as an alternative to the Salon.

Raised in Le Havre, Normandy, Monet developed a passion for the outdoors and drawing early on. While his mother encouraged his artistic ambitions, his father preferred a business career for him. Following his mother's death when he was sixteen, Monet lived with his wealthy aunt, Marie-Jeanne Lecadre, who supported his education. He studied at the Académie Suisse and under the academic painter Charles Gleyre, alongside Auguste Renoir. Initially, his landscapes, seascapes, and portraits garnered little attention, but he found inspiration in plein air painting through Eugène Boudin.

From 1883 onward, Monet resided in Giverny, France, where he purchased a house and embarked on extensive landscaping, including a famous water-lily pond. His ambition to capture the essence of the French countryside led him to paint the same scenes repeatedly, exploring variations in light and seasonal changes. Iconic series from this period include his haystacks (1890–1891), Rouen Cathedral (1892–1894), and the water lilies in his Giverny garden, which he painted continuously in his final two decades.

Although Monet enjoyed success and recognition during his lifetime, his popularity surged in the latter half of the 20th century, cementing his status as one of the world's most celebrated painters and a profound influence on subsequent generations of artists.

Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris was born in 1887 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, into a family of watchmakers. His early exposure to craftsmanship and precision engineering would influence his later architectural style, characterized by meticulous attention to detail and structural integrity.

Le Corbusier's formal education in architecture was limited; instead, he embarked on a journey of self-education, absorbing influences from travels across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. His studies of classical architecture in Italy and Greece left a lasting impression, shaping his belief in architecture as a reflection of societal ideals and human aspirations.

In 1907, he moved to Paris, where he encountered avant-garde artistic movements and immersed himself in the city's vibrant cultural milieu. His interactions with artists such as Pablo Picasso and writers like Max Jacob broadened his intellectual horizons, fueling his desire to redefine architecture's role in the modern world.

Le Corbusier's career trajectory can be divided into distinct phases, each marked by innovation and controversy. In the 1920s, he developed his seminal architectural manifesto, "Vers une architecture" (Towards a New Architecture), where he articulated his "Five Points of Architecture." These principles, including pilotis (supports), flat roofs, open floor plans, horizontal windows, and free façade design, became foundational to modernist architecture.

His early works, such as the Villa Savoye near Paris (1929-1931), exemplified these principles, showcasing a radical departure from traditional building forms. The Villa Savoye's raised pilotis, open interior spaces, and ribbon windows epitomized Le Corbusier's vision of a house as a "machine for living," emphasizing functionality, light, and spatial fluidity.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Le Corbusier expanded his architectural practice to encompass larger urban planning projects. His visionary proposals for cities like Algiers and Chandigarh envisioned organized, efficient urban environments that prioritized green spaces, transportation networks, and communal amenities. His unbuilt designs, such as the Radiant City (Ville Radieuse), envisioned high-rise apartment blocks surrounded by greenery, connected by efficient transportation systems—a utopian vision of urban living that sought to reconcile modernity with humanistic values.

Despite his visionary zeal, Le Corbusier's ideas often sparked controversy. Criticism of his urban planning theories centered on concerns over social homogeneity and the dehumanizing effects of high-density living. His advocacy for mass-produced housing solutions, while innovative, raised questions about architectural diversity and cultural identity in rapidly urbanizing societies.

Le Corbusier's legacy endures as a foundational figure in modern architecture and urban planning. His emphasis on functionality, modular design, and the integration of green spaces into urban environments continues to resonate with architects and urban planners worldwide. His influence can be seen in the sleek lines of contemporary skyscrapers, the open-plan interiors of residential homes, and the sustainable design principles shaping cities of the future.

His impact extends beyond physical structures; Le Corbusier's writings, including "Towards a New Architecture" and "The City of Tomorrow," remain essential texts in architectural education. They continue to inspire generations of architects to rethink the relationship between buildings, society, and the natural environment.

However, Le Corbusier's legacy is not without its complexities. Critics argue that his rigid adherence to modernist principles sometimes overlooked the cultural and social diversity of urban communities. His urban planning experiments, while visionary, faced challenges in implementation, often falling short of their ambitious social goals.

Nevertheless, Le Corbusier's commitment to improving urban life through thoughtful design remains a powerful testament to architecture's potential as a force for positive change. His influence persists in ongoing debates about sustainability, livability, and the future of urban development in an increasingly interconnected world.

1. "Claude Monet Biography". biography.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
2. Fourny-Dargère, Sophie, and Claude Monet (1992). Monet. New York: Konecky and Konecky. p. 30. ISBN 9781568522487.
3. Biography for Claude Monet Archived 20 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine Guggenheim Collection. Retrieved 6 January 2007.
4. Muir, Kim; Sutherland, Ken. "Color, Chemistry, and Creativity in Monet's Water Lilies Archived 6 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine". Art Institute of Chicago, 9 February 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021
5. "Water Lilies 1919". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2021.