Easter break in France

Having recently visited Monet’s house and gardens at Giverny. I can’t get over what a special place it is.

The Garden is full of colour and scents as Monet liked. The street outside his house must always be full of tourists, not too many to spoil it in March.

Having gone so early in the season I found the atmosphere restful. I might change my mind if I went again in the summer. The local Church where Monet is buried is currently undergoing restoration. The workmanship is breathtaking. Every last detail is so perfectly executed.

Having read a little about the Impressionists. I find so many books talk about the tecniques used but never really get down to the bottom of the real reasons why the new art wave at that time developed the way it did.

One thing so often forgotten is the dramatic change made to the raw materials available at the time and of course the influence of photography.