Monet Vs. Degas: Impressionist Aesthetics

Although from the same artist group, these Impressionists originated from backgrounds that seemed worlds apart. Claude Monet, known as the "Master Impressionist" varied the themes in his artwork more than any other artist did. Monet's work "Impression Sunrise", of which the term "Impressionist" originates also gives rise to the title "Master Impressionist". Edgar Degas started his career as an artist with nothing in common with Monet but the era in which they lived. From themes to brushstrokes and choices of colours, Monet and Degas started their relationship as Impressionist artists on opposite ends of the earth. However, towards the climax of their lives as artists, Monet aided Degas in adopting Impressionist Aesthetic qualities.

Monet chose to depict exquisite landscapes from his own gardens and elsewhere, particularly in France. He uses small, elegant brush strokes and vibrant colour to match the scenes he paints. In the mid-1870's, Monet's influence over Degas lead Degas to lean his colour choices nearer to those of other Impressionists. In addition to this, Degas began employing pastels, which gave his works a more granular affect that more closely resembled those of other Impressionists. For numerous years in his life, after attempting to paint his the first of his famous "Haystacks" ,and, being unable to seize the right shading or colours due to the rising sun, Monet was intrigued by the affect of weather and light on his outdoor projects. On the other hand, Degas, although also concentrated mainly in France, based his works on people, nudes and ballerinas in particular. Monet never painted a nude.

Monet and Degas' earlier works have notably different brush stroke styles. While Monet has tended to lean towards the short, choppy and yet delicate, Degas' strokes blended virtuously unnoticeable. However, these seem to correspond with their earlier themes and objectives. Monet mastered the art of illustrating waves with his brush stroke style, Degas, the curve of a woman's body or the sheer coat of a young colt. The colours chosen by either artist's match the scenes they tend to choose to paint. Degas normally chose colours that would show deep contrast between the background and foreground. Monet chose colours the gently blended and showed vibrancy but that created a kind of stable balance in the greater part of his paintings. Degas' brushstrokes are smoother and more flowing in his earlier works, before his encounter with Monet. Towards the end of his life, Degas concentrated most of his painting, and eventually pastel works, on his obsession with capturing motion.

Born in 1840, Claude Monet began to show promise in the arts as a young boy. Although discouraged by his father, Monet made enough money to support himself through art school by selling caricatures. At the age of 15, Monet's name, amongst the people, became well known for his talent. Although he never finished school, he established himself and initially chose to concentrate his paintings on still life. His first large work, "Dejeuner sur l'herbe", however, would not depict the scenes for which he would later be known; for example, his landscapes and sights from his garden at Givenchy. He started painting scenery as a result of the influence of a co-worker named Boudin. While at Givenchy, Monet is captivated by his garden. He spends the remainder of his life there and paints his Japanese footbridge a great many number of times.

Degas, however, born in 1834 to an upper class family of Franco-Italian background was always encouraged to develop his talent. He tended to lean towards painting familiar gatherings in his shy and insecure "keyhole" manner; used mainly when painting people in action, for example, "The Tub" or "The Bath". For both these works, Degas can be noted for saying, "I want to look through the