Impressionism; The Dream
I just finished reading this chapter from an Impressionism book and I have never so badly wanted there to be a mainly fictitious novel written about the lives and adventures of the chief Impressionists. I shall give you a direct quote from the book (which uses a direct quote from another book) about the eight leaders of Impressionism:
"iconoclasts: a haughty dandy like Manet; an easy going street urchin like Renoir; a soft hearted revolutionary like Pissaro; a self doubting dreamer like Cezanne; an exquisite young woman of highly proper background like Morisot; one wealthy American feminist like Cassatt; and a rich bourgeois of impeccable breeding but occasionally arrogant and nasty disposition like Degas. Among them was only one rude, outspoken, defiant and domineering egoist, Monet."
"The artist's personalities are clearly revealed by what they say and how they say it; Degas, sarcastic and belittling; Manet, supercilious and urbane; Monet, aggressive and blunt; Renoir, flattering and gentle; Cezanne, guarded and moody; Pissaro, magnanimous and paternal; Morisot, self doubting and charming; and Cassatt, independent and assertive."
It also helps to know that Pissaro was really the father of the group, Morisot was in love with Manet but married Manet's brother instead, Cassatt painted children and mothers but never married, and Renoir and Monet were close friends, as were Pissaro and Cezanne. Degas was also Cassat's mentor, despite being a raging misogynist. It's a partly fictitious novel waiting to happen. Why hasn't it been written yet? Or, made into a movie? God, I can just see it now, Morisot pining away for Manet, Cezanne seeking guidance from Pissaro in rural South France, Manet being mysterious and shocking and Cassatt whirling in from America, strong and wickedly witty, ready to put all the boys to shame. I'm certain no one is as excited about this as I am, which is why I'm sure it's not yet been made into a novel, movie or what have you. It's a sad day, when no one around you seems to find art history as exciting as you do.
"iconoclasts: a haughty dandy like Manet; an easy going street urchin like Renoir; a soft hearted revolutionary like Pissaro; a self doubting dreamer like Cezanne; an exquisite young woman of highly proper background like Morisot; one wealthy American feminist like Cassatt; and a rich bourgeois of impeccable breeding but occasionally arrogant and nasty disposition like Degas. Among them was only one rude, outspoken, defiant and domineering egoist, Monet."
"The artist's personalities are clearly revealed by what they say and how they say it; Degas, sarcastic and belittling; Manet, supercilious and urbane; Monet, aggressive and blunt; Renoir, flattering and gentle; Cezanne, guarded and moody; Pissaro, magnanimous and paternal; Morisot, self doubting and charming; and Cassatt, independent and assertive."
It also helps to know that Pissaro was really the father of the group, Morisot was in love with Manet but married Manet's brother instead, Cassatt painted children and mothers but never married, and Renoir and Monet were close friends, as were Pissaro and Cezanne. Degas was also Cassat's mentor, despite being a raging misogynist. It's a partly fictitious novel waiting to happen. Why hasn't it been written yet? Or, made into a movie? God, I can just see it now, Morisot pining away for Manet, Cezanne seeking guidance from Pissaro in rural South France, Manet being mysterious and shocking and Cassatt whirling in from America, strong and wickedly witty, ready to put all the boys to shame. I'm certain no one is as excited about this as I am, which is why I'm sure it's not yet been made into a novel, movie or what have you. It's a sad day, when no one around you seems to find art history as exciting as you do.