From the Publisher
“At this point in time, it’s hard to imagine anyone saying anything new about impressionism. But Harmon Siegel’s Painting with Monet manages that and more, offering an original perspective on the pictorial and human relations among the painters—Monet as the central figure but also Boudin, Jongkind, Bazille, Renoir, Sisley, and finally—not an impressionist but a basic term of reference for the younger painters—Manet. Siegel’s arguments are subtle, his philosophical sophistication is impressive, and his readings of individual paintings are models of close description. In short, this is an important contribution to our understanding of a crucial passage in the history of modern art.”—Michael Fried, author of French Suite: A Book of Essays“Highly original. By focusing on Monet’s persistent practice of painting side by side with other artists, Siegel unravels one of the core enigmas that has haunted the understanding of impressionism since its inception: what reality do these artists represent? Painting with Monet will remain a necessary touchstone for all future histories of the subject.”—Marnin Young, author of Realism in the Age of Impressionism: Painting and the Politics of Time“Painting with Monet makes a fascinating case for taking seriously an overlooked aspect within Monet’s oeuvre. For Siegel, the artist’s practice of painting side by side with several of his peers opens onto some of the most vexing issues in impressionist painting, even onto some of the most crucial ethical and philosophical concerns of the day, artistic autonomy and the nature of individual freedom of expression chief among them.”—André Dombrowski, University of Pennsylvania, author of Monet’s Minutes: Impressionism and the Industrialization of Time