French Normandy calls many artists. Monet’s childhood was in Le Havre, whilst British artist David Hockey moved to Normandy in 2019. Hockney claims inspiration from Monet and in 2022 unveiled a Bayeux-Tapestry-style frieze to celebrate the arrival of Spring in Normandy. In 2024, Musee des Beaux Arts, Rouen focused on Monet and Hockney, also paying tribute to Normandy artists such as Pissarro, Boudin, Jongkind, Whistler, Gauguin and Signac. Musée des Impressionnismes, Giverny recently celebrated Impressionism and the Sea. This talk will focus on themes of Normandy artists in nature and the sea and the Impressionist paintings they created.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face / Online

COURSE OUTLINE

• Introduce the French Impressionists via the influence on David Hockney’s current work
• The themes of Normandy light and nature and the sea that inspire artists
• Recent exhibitions in Normandy and Europe that celebrate these themes and connections

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Comment on the links between the work of David Hockney and Claude Monet
2. Name some Normandy inspired Impressionist artists
3. Consider the themes of nature and the sea in the paintings of French Impressionism