
This is one of two paintings of Monet's orchard at Giverny and depicts his favourite model, Suzanne Hoschedé with her son, Jean.
Created almost entirely out of a variegated range of pinks, greens and blues, the picture exudes a sense of joyous celebration at the coming of spring. As Virginia Spade has observed, this scene is 'a recreation of the sensation of being submerged in blossom and new leaves, in the scent and warmth of a spring day in which everything is vibrantly alive'.
The enchanting mood which emanates from this scene is probably due to the relation that Monet had developed with Suzanne's mother, Alice Hoschedé, after the death of his first wife, Camille; she was helping him to raise his own children and they finally got married in 1890.
More information
Title of artwork, date
Springtime (Le Printemps), 1886
Date supported
1953
Medium and material
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
64.8 x 80.6 cm
Grant
1000
Total cost
4000

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