The Cliffs at Etretat

Danny Ocean (George Clooney): And I always confuse Monet and Manet. Now, which one married his mistress?
Tess Ocean (Julia Roberts): Monet.
Danny: Right, and then Manet had syphilis.
Tess: They also painted occasionally.

What to do, what to do? Retirement, week one and a half.

We decided to visit the Monet Exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. We... It was Pat's idea, actually, something about which she was quite enthused. It had drawn excellent reviews. Friends had raved about it. Mid-week, mid-day. Beat the crowds, take our time. 

Of course, why not. What could it hurt, staring at paintings of... He's an impersonator, right?

Her: Impressionist, dear.
Me: Oh.

So, off we went. Since I had no pre-conceived notions of what it would be like, there was no reason to think I'd be disappointed. 

It was fabulous!

The groups embark in fifteen minute intervals, spacing them out just enough. Before entering the exhibit a worker distributes a hand-held self-guided tour. At well-marked points along the way the guest is invited to punch in a number - some for adults and some for kids - that offered information, set the scene for the scenes and gave biographical information, historical contexts and commentary by local experts in geology, botany and painting.

It was fascinating, to view how Monet's gift expressed itself. His painting evolved continually, he toured Europe and along the way tried to capture the essence of what he was seeing. Far from pictures that are virtual photographs, he gives the viewer his...IMPRESSION! That's it.

Drawing up as close as the wary security folks would allow, it was amazing to see brush strokes - a bit of red, some white, a long streak of blue - it was a woman walking the streets of Paris! Parallel green strokes with a broad brush - waves! One painting, the famous water lily scene, changed dimensions the closer one got.

It was breathtaking. A geologist commenting on my little speaker thing said "Etreta's cliffs are white! Yet here we are, the colors representing how the clouds, the air...light...can give them unimaginable hues."

Monet wasn't painting a picture, he was painting feelings, aromas, the ever changing nature of the passage of time. It was almost like he was putting you right there, without beating you over the head with the experience, and letting you imagine it for yourself.

Like a writer might.

My wife is a genius.