'Impression Sunrise' Whispers ...

Claude Monet - Impression Sunrise

Monet is my absolute favorite artist.

My bedroom wall is covered with a series of prints of his works. This piece is titled Impression Sunrise. 

Monet's style is called impressionism. He describes it well when he says "When you go out to paint, try to forget what objects you have in front of you, a tree, a field...Merely think, here is  a little square of blue, here an oblong of pink, here a streak of yellow, and paint it as it looks to you, the exact color and shape, until it gives you your own naive impression of the scene."

What Monet does is capture a moment. He transforms a single passing moment into an immortal impression .This moment is destined to pass, and change is inevitable. What lasts is the impression, in this case, in the form of a painting, a memory of what was there.  The position of the sun, the reflection of sun rays, the color of the sky, the position of the boats will all change. The moment will pass, and a new impression will be created. 

For me, this artwork is a reminder of the importance of being present and accepting the transience of time. A concept thats so simple yet so hard to live with. However, accepting this simple truth makes us appreciate what we have, whats right there in front of us. Knowing how precious a moment is, and that it will be gone soon one will be hesitant to waste it. This works with difficult moments as well, moments that we do not wish to be in, ones that we hope would pass by faster. Accepting their transience gives one patience and strength to know that 'this too shall pass'. We spend so much time thinking of the past or planning the future, that we forget the only time we ever get to live in, the present. A moment is the most precious thing we own. No one moment is like the other, and each one comes with a new gift, and a new challenge. 

If you were to look at the details of the painting you would find that it is composed of brush strokes put together.Little details combined together to create something beautiful. It reminds me of how important the little things are. Little gestures of kindness can have a great impact. Smiling to a stranger, emailing an old friend, calling your grandparents, helping someone; these are all things we tend to forget when we get caught up in our hectic routines. These are all little details that can create something beautiful. 

The size of the human figures in the painting reminds me that we are insignificant in comparison to the world we live in. We are part of a greater whole, a greater energy. Its easy to sometimes fall into the illusion of thinking that "my world" is all that matters. "Me, my issues, my wants, my needs" is something we all focus on, some a bit more than others. I think its nice to think every now and then of others, of this universe we live in, and to think of ourselves not as the center of the universe but rather a part of it.

Impression Sunrise Whispers, it whispers ...

Be present, because once this moment is gone you won't have it back. Be kind, because its the little things that matter. And be humble, because you are one part of a greater whole, a more beautiful whole.