Claude Monet, Le Basin d'Argenteuil

The composition of Le Basin d'Argenteuil is one of the techniques Monet used to make this piece so exquisite. The organization of the triangular shapes, tall vertical masts, and horizontal clusters of nature and the relationship created amongst these diverse images work wonderfully. The repetition of the vertical shapes on the river as well as the triangular sail shapes represent a geometric rhythm the viewer can easily identify. On the left side of the painting, a cluster of sailb

Lines separate the foreground, middle ground, and background in this piece. One can trace a curved line around the foreground of riverside shrubs and flowers distinctly from the vibrant blues of the Seine. On the other side of the river, a distinct horizontal line shows the difference between water and a grassy riverbed, as well as the distinction between the riverbed and the forest lush with tall trees. Similar to the foreground, the horizon created by the tree tops is traceable by a curved line which separates the forest from the sky. The usage of line in this painting does not just differentiate between grounds, but creates a dramatic effect when the harsh vertical lines of the masts of the sailboats intervene on an otherwise smooth, horizontally rhythmic work. This makes the line of the work extremely important in the composition.

Light is obvious in this oil painting, represented by the brightness of the blue water and the reflections placed among the water's surface. Although the source of this light is not shown by the sun or bright area of sky, the viewer can infer that the sun is casting this light from a location not visible in the image but possibly directly above the summer scene. A three-dimensional feel is also given off by the transition of lighted bright greens and yellows in the foreground to the deeper darkened greens of the trees and muted sky in the background. The viewer feels as though the pieces of nature pop out in front of them in the painting and that the trees and sky recede in the background away from them. The vibrancy and liveliness of the bright colors used in the foreground's bushes and the middle ground's water lift the mood so that the viewer feels at ease, comfortable, and happy when thinking about and viewing these sailboats on a sunny summer day in Europe.

Claude Monet conveys the essence of a harmonious relationship in this painting of recreational sailing. The cool, calm colors mingle with the floating boats on a picturesque summer day in Europe. The light

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