What Are The Similarities And Differences Between Van Gogh And Monet?

What Are The Similarities And Differences Between Van Gogh And Monet? 

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Two of the greatest artists living in the late 19th Century were Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet. These two great artists have some similarities and also differences.

Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh are two artists that produced art in Europe in the late 19th Century. They are both considered to be two great artists. Monet and Van Gogh have some similarities in their art and some unique differences.

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Similarities Between Claude Monet And Vincent Van Gogh

Even though Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh lived during the same time frame, their artwork has many similarities. Here are some of the fundamental similarities between Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh:

Monet And Van Gogh Both Rejected Realism

Vincent Van Gogh
Vincent Van Gogh

Both Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh reject realism in their art. During their lifetime, realism painting was in vogue, and both artists rejected realism but instead painted as they saw things for their art movements.

Monet was said to go to the Lourve to paint, and he would look at the window and paint as he saw things out the window. Van Gogh was famous for painting what and how he ssomethingngs, not as they were.

Monet And Van Gogh Both Painted En Plein Air

Monet and Van Gogh were known to be en Plein air painters, meaning they would take their easel and canvas outside and paint. They would paint, as they saw, the nature that was before them.

Monet And Van Gogh Understand Light In Painting

San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk (1908-1912)
Painting By Claude Monet

Both Monet and Van Gogh understand the power of using light in their painting. Monet was known to be obsessed with light; he would study light and the effect of light on his paintings.

The Starry Night (1889)
Painting By Vincent van Gogh

For Van Gothe light was also important, but more than just light; he was obsessed with the yellow sunlight.

Monet And Van Gogh Were Both Influenced By Japanese Woodblock Prints

Monet and Van Gogh were known to be influenced by many Japanese woodblock print artists. They were both collectors of Japanese woodblock prints.

At Monet’s house in Giverny, you can find over 230 Japanese woodblock prints that he collected. He greatly loved these woodblock prints and used them a lot as inspiration. You can check our blog about Claude Monet And The Rise Of Japonismlearn know more about Claude Monet and Japanese woodblock prints.

Van Gogh was known to have Japanese woodblock prints in his studio and used them as inspiration for his artwork.

Monet And Van Gogh Both Suffered From Some Mental Illness

Vincent Van Ghad’s mental illnesses throughout the entire time he was an artist. His illness started to get progressively worse, and he spent time in and out of hospitals. Read more about Why Did Vincent Van Gogh Commit Suicide? by clicking here.

Monet was also known to have some mental illness but not as bad as Vincent Van Gogh. Monet struggled with depression, self-doubt, and other illnesses throughout his life. Later in life, Monet also suffered from cataracts.

Claude Monet
Claude Monet

Monet And Van Gogh Both Influenced Other Artists

Both Monet and Van Gogh influenced many other artists. Monet is said to have influenced Abstract Expressionism painters such as Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. Andy Warhol said that Monet influenced his artwork.

To some degree, Monet influenced Vincent Van Gogh in the form and scale he used.

Vincent Van Gogh influenced many other artists, including Henri Matisse and Paul Klee. Van Gogh also directly influenced expressionism and fauvism art movements and even abstract art.

Both Monet And Van Gogh’s Paintings Increased In Fame And Value After Their Death

Claude Monet saw some moderate success when he was alive, but the value of his paintings increased significantly after his death. Later in life, he was able to be financially secure.

Vincent Van Gogh saw very little success. It is believed he only ever sold two paintings before his untimely death. His fame and fortune all came after his death.

Differences Between Claude Monet And Vincent Van Gogh

Even though Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh had some similarities in their artwork and how they viewed art, they also had some differences. Here are some of their significant differences;

Monet And Van Gogh Were Two Different Art Movements

Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh were in two completely different art movements. Monet was strictly an Impressionist artist. All his artwork is Impressionism art.

Vincent Van Gogh is known to be a Post-Impressionism artist, the period art movement after the Impressionism movement.

Monet Used Light, And Van Gogh Used Color

As a true impressionist, Claude Monet was obsessed with light and used the effects of light in his paintings. That is why almost all his work is in the hazy impressionism style that shows timpactcts of light.

Van Gogh also used light but focused more on color and using color; for Van Gogh, color was the vehicle he used to express his emotion.

Monet Used Short Brush Strokes, And Van Gogh Did Not

In the true Impressionism style, Claude Monet used short brush strokes in his artwork. In all his artwork, you can see the shorter brushstrokes he used.

Vincent Van Gogh did not follow this but instead used a lot of broader and longer brush strokes in his painting.

Monet Saw Some Success, But Van Gogh Did Not

Monet saw considerable success during his lifetime; he purchased his house at Giverny and had land there that he used as inspiration for his artwork.

Vincent Van Gogh did not see any success during this lifetime. We were known only to sell two paintings, and he had to depend upon his brother Theo to financially support him and his artwork.

Both Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh are considered brilliant artists who helped influence many artists who have gone after them. When most people think about the artists in Europe in the later 19th Century, the names of Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh come up.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How did the artistic styles of Van Gogh and Monet differ?

Van Gogh is known for his post-impressionist style, characterized by bold colors, thick brushstrokes, and emotional intensity. Monet, on the other hand, is a leading figure in the impressionist movement, emphasizing light, color, and the fleeting effects of nature.

Did Van Gogh and Monet share any artistic influences?

While both artists were influenced by the French Impressionist movement, they had different mentors. Monet was influenced by Eugène Boudin and Johan Barthold Jongkind, whereas Van Gogh drew inspiration from the works of artists like Rembrandt and Japanese prints.

How did their approaches to color differ?

Van Gogh’s use of color was often vibrant and bold, conveying intense emotions. Monet, on the other hand, focused on capturing the changing effects of light on color, using a lighter and more pastel palette in his impressionist works.

Were there thematic similarities in their works?

Both artists had a deep connection to nature, but Van Gogh’s works often included rural scenes and landscapes with a strong emotional content, while Monet is renowned for his series paintings capturing various aspects of nature, such as water lilies and haystacks.

How did Van Gogh and Monet approach brushwork?

Van Gogh’s brushstrokes were often thick and expressive, creating a sense of movement and texture. Monet’s brushwork, in contrast, was more delicate and aimed at capturing the immediate impression of a scene.

Did Van Gogh and Monet share similar subject matter?

While both artists painted landscapes and nature, Van Gogh often included figures in his works, portraying people in various settings. Monet, in contrast, focused more on the landscape itself and the changing effects of light.

How did their personal lives influence their art?

Van Gogh’s tumultuous personal life, marked by mental health struggles, influenced the emotional intensity in his works. Monet’s art was influenced by a more tranquil life, centered around his garden in Giverny.

Were Van Gogh and Monet recognized during their lifetimes?

Monet achieved significant recognition and financial success during his lifetime, while Van Gogh faced struggles and was not widely appreciated until after his death. Today, both are celebrated as artistic giants.

Did Van Gogh and Monet ever meet or collaborate?

There is no evidence that Van Gogh and Monet ever met or collaborated. Their artistic paths crossed in the sense that they were active during the same period, but there’s no record of direct interaction.

How do Van Gogh and Monet’s legacies differ today?

Both artists are considered masters in their own right, but Van Gogh is often associated with the tortured genius archetype, while Monet is celebrated for his contributions to the impressionist movement and his serene depictions of nature.

Claude Monet And His Art Work

Claude Monet was one of the more prolific and consistent Impressionism painters. He believed in painting what was seen in nature and the changing light. He was an en Plein air painter. He is known for his strong and bold colors and short brush strokes.

You can discover more by reading Claude Monet And His Art Work by clicking here.

Similarities Between Claude Debussy And Claude Monet

Claude Debussy is a musical composer. Claude Monet is an artist. They are both considered Impressionists and were not afraid to break from the tradition of their day to create something new. Both Debussy and Monet greatly influenced many artists that went after them.

By clicking here, you can learn more by reading Similarities Of Claude Debussy And Claude Monet.

Why Is Van Gogh Considered Such A Great Artist?

Many things make Vincent Van Gogh unique and great as an artist. He had a great way of using color in his heart, but more than that, he was an artist who set and paved the way, and his brushstroke technique used color and his design ability. What is interesting is that he did this as a self-taught artist.

By clicking here, you can discover more by reading Why Is Van Gogh Considered Such a Great Artist?

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