And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spat on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly – Mark 8:23-25 (ESV)
As we continue our journey of Lent, we heard in last week’s Gospel of Jesus’ healing the man born blind. All the Gospels present this event with some variation in style, John’s being the most extensive account. Taking a page from the Gospel passage above, of men being like trees, walking, it is a perfect opportunity to look at one of the great art movements which emphasised a vague, often transient style: impressionism. As a guide to this movement, we will be examining Claude Monet’s Woman with a Parasol – Madame Monet and Her Son (1875).
The term “impressionism” was originally used by critics as an insult for the budding movement, since it seemed to merely capture a broad “impression” of a scene, like a stamp impression. This stood in contrast to the detailed, almost photographic, realism popular in the period before the advent of modern art. Another contrasting feature of impressionist art to more classical forms is that impressionist pieces are best viewed from a distance. When seen close up, its details become increasingly smudgy, or incomprehensible to the eye, but from a distance the image in its full form, or impression, can best be seen. This is illustrated in Monet’s painting. From a distance, we can see that the image is of a woman and child standing in a field of variously coloured flowers, but if examined closer, these details melt away into a smattering of brush strokes and indistinct features. On the one hand, impressionism can teach us to step back and take a broader look at ourselves, to examine the panorama of our earthly and spiritual lives. For just as close examination of the painting reveals little, or could even leave us confused, only by looking from a distance can we appreciate the form which has been placed on the canvas.
Impressionism also communicates something of the transient beauty of the world, and of human existence. It shows us that all things in this world, even the good things, are passing. The woman in the image wears a veil, blowing in the wind, resembling the clouds behind her, calling to mind the words of the Psalmist: O Lord, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow (Ps 144:3-4). Impressionist artworks remind us, as St. Paul says, that: For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known (1 Cor 13:12). This hazy image which the painter has made is not to be fully realised in this life (although perhaps this transience adds to its inherent beauty).
In the same way, while our lives may appear clear to us, while we think that we may be able to see; only in the light of Christ, and in the light of eternity, will we be able to see fully, and in more detail, than we could ever see in this life. As Our Lord says in the Gospel: For judgement I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind (John 9:39). Thus, we should ensure that we are able to see correctly, not as one who looks at themselves in a mirror and forgets (cf. James 1:23-24), but be someone who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing (James 1:25). The ethereal beauty of this image, and of the impressionist movement as a whole, should move us to contemplate not only the beauty of this passing world, but of the Source of this beauty, Who draws all to Himself (John 12:32) and Who will one day be all in all (1 Cor 15:28).
[May] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, […] give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints – Ephesians 1:17-18
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