Monet, The Gare Saint-Lazare Train Station

           During the 19^th century Impressionism began. Many artists are no longer interested in mythological subject matter. Artists are painting the things they see around them. Impressionist artists have a focus on the effects of light and color. At this time artists were spending lots of time outside painting, which they were finally able to do since the invention of collapsible metal paint tubes in 1841.  Another reason impressionists artist were painting outdoor is that they were inspired by the urbanization of Paris starting in 1852. Claude Monet is an impressionist artist. He painted The Gare Saint-Lazare Train Station, Arrival of a Train in 1877.  My overall reaction of this painting is that it effectively expresses the aims of Impressionism.

            The Arrival of a Train was painted plein air, meaning it was painted outdoors. The painting conveys extreme realism being that it is a split second of time when the train arrives and the puff of smoke is let out from the stack. The composition is visually interesting; there seem to be many lines that cause the viewer’s eyes to move throughout the piece.  For example the railroad tracks in the foreground that goes off the bottom of the canvas and then lead into the background of the painting. The painting is asymmetrically balanced with one train leaving and another entering the scene.  One can see that the arriving train is more emphasized because of the smoke cloud around it. Cropping is utilized in the piece as well, which help convey realism. In the foreground there appears to be a train attendant awaiting the train’s arrival who has his legs cropped.

            Another key part of Impressionism is the scientific observation of light and color. Many Impressionist artists would spend time outside observing how sunlight affects the landscape depending on the time of day. Monet would return to locations over and over to observing the light. This is seen in many of his works especially Haystack, Sun in the Mist and in Haystack, Snow Effect. The Arrival of a Train utilizes interesting color combinations; Monet mixes colors one would not usually see next to each other to create colors that the eye blends together. This idea can be seen throughout the painting, especially in the ground and the ceiling of the station. If one looks at the ceiling it appears to be a mossy green color but with a closer look on can see that there are reds, browns and blues to create the overall color. One other way the viewer can tell the train on the right is emphasized is through color, there are hints of red which the viewer would be attracted to. Since this painting was done outside at the station you can see the effect of sunlight, or lack of sunlight. Monet uses many blues and grays in this piece that suggests it might have been a cloudy overcast day.

Impressionists are not concerned in having a smooth surface when finished painting like the Academy painters. In the painting the Arrival of a train, Monet utilizes an impasto technique that is a thick application of paint which leaves the surface very rough. Since the painting is plein air and alla prima, painted “at once” or “from the first” there is a sketch like quality to the painting. It is not as visible in Arrival of a Train as Monet’s Impression: Sunrise, which appears to be an unfinished sketch of a painting. The Arrival of a Train could appear sketch like because there is not a lot of detail in the background of the painting, and some of the figures appear unfinished. There is a level spontaneity in of the Arrival of a Train because Monet is a realist meaning he is painting exactly what appears around him at that time.

Overall I find The Gare Saint-Lazare Train Station to be an interesting Impressionist painting. I enjoy the ways it incorporates impressionist characteristics of light and color observation. I thing it is fun that Monet was outside paintings this piece in the middle of a train station is inspiring. The use of unusual colors keeps viewers enthralled. I think the true reason I enjoy this piece is that many years later we are able to see exactly what the artist was seeing without photographs.