Painted #writephoto

25 Replies
painted

Photo by Sue Vincent

“He’s down here, sitting in the garden.”

We walked around a corner and I saw the old man sitting, just staring across the small lily pond, not noticing our arrival at all.

He glanced up at us as we came to his side, but returned his attention to his gardens and the water.

We waited, letting him take his time, though I felt a little chilled, just standing there.  It was partially cloudy and a bit windy.

I must have made some noise as I shifted my weight to my other foot, for he turned towards me and smiled knowingly.

“Young man,” he said, “what are you seeing?”

“A beautiful garden.  A pond.  A bridge.” I shrugged, feeling a little uncomfortable under his gaze. “Yes, it is peaceful.  So static…”

He moved a little, as if in a silent chuckle.

“Static?  You call this static?” He waved a gnarled hand.  “Look at the flowers blowing in the wind!  They are constantly shifting, bending one way and then another, never the same twice.  And the water.  Oh, that water, the magical water!  The light is constantly changing, making it come alive.  If I could ever make a painting like that water, I would die a happy man!”

I looked out at the water.  He had made some paintings of this water, but they had been changing of late.  They were no longer of the scene itself, but, I hated to use the word, impressions of the scene.

“Your paintings are wonderful, M. Monet.”

He smiled.

“No, this,” he waved a hand indicating all that could be seen, “this is my true masterpiece, though I deserve only a little credit.  This was painted by God himself.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to continue to study the work of the greatest master of the arts…”

He returned his attention to the small pond and garden, not seeing us at all, as if we didn’t exist.

As I was led away, I could only wonder what the future would think of his over-sized paintings of this simple scene.

***

Written for Sue Vincent’s writephoto challenge.  The photo at the top is Sue’s.  She also gave us a key word, Painted.

*

To answer the narrator’s question, any who have stood in front of those gigantic water lilies, those at L’Orangerie and others spread across the globe, will know what “the future” thinks ;)

25 thoughts on “Painted #writephoto”

  2. Pingback: Photo prompt round-up: Painted #writephoto | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo

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  6. memadtwo

    I’ve just been reading about Monet…he was indeed always trying to recreate both the reflections and the depths below the water in one painting. Never satisfied, but what glorious “attempts”. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          I saw a traveling show of them years ago, but I’ve also seen a few great collections when visiting France. Just fantastic. I did read that he spent a lot of effort with his garden and was as proud of it as of any painting he did. I haven’t visited, but hear it is still wonderful.

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  8. Pingback: Painted ~ Trent P. McDonald #writephoto | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo

  10. delphini510

    Thank you, Trent, beautifully written post, awaking the deep awe and
    love we feel of a man who created a wonderful garden and kept painting
    it so we can understand.
    I have been to L’Orangerie a few times and the way it touches you is
    heavenly – almost painful.

    miriam

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks, I’m glad you liked the story. L’Orangerie is fabulous. I’ve seen a few of his other large scale works with lilies and water in other places. All of them are great, but I don’t know if any take the breath away quite as much as the ones there. I haven’t visited Giverny, but perhaps the next time I’m in France…

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks. I’m pretty sure Sue’s picture is of Monet’s garden in Giverny, which, I believe, he once said was his greatest masterpiece. There are few works of art that can compare to his large scale water lilies…

      Liked by 1 person

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  12. Sue Vincent

    Wonderful, Trent. And I immediately thought of Monet when I turned the corner of the path and saw this scene…though it is far from Giverny.
    I will never forget standing at the heart of those paintings in the Orangerie either…

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