I’ve been itching to write about Claude Monet for weeks now, so I rolled up my sleeves and started digging into his paintings. First thing, I pulled out my laptop and went hunting through art books and online galleries – honestly felt like swimming in an ocean of water lilies!
Getting Totally Overwhelmed
Searched “best Monet paintings” and bam! Hundreds popped up. Got real tricky because some came in series – like those water lily pond scenes. Do I pick one or count the whole series? My coffee went cold while I sat there scratching my head.
Making Messy Lists
Grabbed my notebook and started scribbling. Wrote down every famous Monet work I could remember. Made piles like:
- His early stuff before the Impressionist hype
- London fog paintings (those grey tones!)
- All the gardens and ponds
My kitchen table looked like an art war zone with printouts everywhere.
The Big Elimination Game
Started knocking out paintings that didn’t hit his core style. Sorry, “Women in the Garden” – lovely but too staged. The list got messy again when I counted versions. That Japanese bridge he painted like 50 times? Almost threw my pen across the room figuring which one was most iconic.
Final Showdown
Stared at my top 15 until my eyes crossed. Compared:
- Which ones changed how people saw art?
- Which keep popping up in museums and pop culture?
- Which give that pure Monet wow feeling?
Argued with myself in the shower about the last spot. Seriously debated sunrise versus haystacks for 20 minutes!
The Top 5 That Made The Cut
After all that chaos, here’s what landed in my top 5:
- Impression, Sunrise – duh, started the whole movement
- Water Lilies (the big murals) – basically his life’s work
- Woman with a Parasol – captures that wind-blown joy
- Rouen Cathedral Series – same building in crazy different light
- Poppies Near Argenteuil – red flowers slapping you in the face
Left out some gems I love, but these scream “MONET” the loudest.
Proof In The Pudding
Showed the list to my art teacher buddy and guess what? She nodded along saying “yeah that’s textbook Monet canon.” Felt like winning the lottery! Might still change my mind next year after that Paris trip I’m saving for though…
