Shortly after settling in Giverny, Claude Monet became fascinated with the effects of light on the countryside of France. Starting in 1890, he began his “series” paintings — haystacks, the Rouen Cathedral, and water lilies — that would eventually come to define his immense contribution to not only Impressionism, but also Abstraction and 20th century art. In this episode of Masterworks, immerse yourself in one of these monumental paintings, Meules, 1890, offered as a highlight of Sotheby's Impressionist and Modern Evening Sale in New York. The artist focuses solely on the grainstacks themselves in a meditation on color, form and light. In doing so, he elevates the humble grainstack to an emblem of Impressionism. One of only eight works from this series to remain in private hands, Meules remains an undisputed masterpiece of Monet’s oeuvre and one of art history’s most evocative images. (14 May | New York)
