Claude Monet 1921

This photograph of Claude Monet was taken by Adolph de Meyer, though the date is unknown. De Meyer, a key figure in the Photo-Secession movement, captured Monet, the famous Impressionist painter, in a moment of quiet contemplation. The image hints at the evolving status of artists and their public image. Monet's transition from a rebellious figure challenging the Salon system to an established master afforded him a celebrity which prompted photographic portraits such as this one. De Meyer was known for his soft-focus technique, blurring lines and creating a dreamlike quality. While the photographic medium was often perceived as objective, De Meyer, like other photographers in the Photo-Secession movement, asserted photography as a fine art, imbuing it with personal expression. By researching both the art historical context of Impressionism and the institutional history of photography, we can understand the social forces that shaped both the production and reception of this image.