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Monet’s Giverny Garden is open to the public from April 1 to November 1 each year; visitors can still experience the ambiance of the acclaimed artist, strolling through his house and grounds, marveling at the floral compositions and water lilies. Today, we continue our interview with Madame Patin to learn more of Monet’s story. “Monet lived a country life. He was not at all withdrawn in Giverny. He would travel to Paris to see Sacha Guitry’s plays.”Monet believed that black didn’t exist in nature, and he consequently avoided using it. Madame Patin talks about Monet’s home. “The house reflects Monet’s life. In the living room workshop, there are about 60 paintings that retrace Monet’s career. This house breathed color on the first floor with Monet’s paintings, but also in his room upstairs, where Monet had not wanted his paintings to be visible. On the contrary, he woke up and went to sleep with his friends’ paintings, since his room was filled with the impressionist paintings of his friends: Renoir, Sisley, Manet, Cézanne – notably a very beautiful collection of 14 of Cézanne’s – Boudin and Jongkind, who had been his first masters, also Berthe Morisot, Signac, Pissarro, and even a pastel by Edgar Degas. You had a whole collection that showed that Monet remained faithful to all his friends until the end.”As Madame Patin explains, Monet was very passionate about his work. “Monet loved to work. He spent his life working. Sacha Guitry showed it in his film “Those of Our Land,” made in 1915, where he depicted the painter. He is the only one to leave us an extraordinary testimony of Monet in front of a canvas, outside, in the open air, painting the “Water Lilies” with great enthusiasm, with great virtuosity and speed. The catalogue of Monet’s paintings was published by Daniel Wildenstein, and the number of paintings amounts to 2,000, which is substantial.” Fortunately, Monet’s amazing work became well-known during his lifetime. Monet’s creations continue to inspire many, including Madame Patin, who has commissioned several major exhibitions and written books about him.
