Art Institute of Chicago
Monet Beyond the Frame
Always fascinated by the transient nature of surrealist art technique, I started a research design project dedicated to viewing the surrealist artwork through more factual lenses. By reconstructing some of the most iconic art work of Claude Monet using historical data and artifacts (journals, correspondents, maps, and city plans), the project revealed unseen details of the landscapes that we’ve been so familiar with through the canvas. To expand beyond the known scene, the project further reimagined what the artist side of the story might look like, inviting viewers to take a glimpse at the artist's world and perceive his creations from an enriched vantage point.
Client -> Art Institute of Chicago
Category -> Experiential, Illustration
Role -> Lead Designer
Team -> Leviathan
Claude Monet (1877)
This reimagined depiction of Claude Monet’s La Gare Saint-Lazare (1877) transforms the impressionist masterpiece into a meticulous blueprint-style rendering, emphasizing the structural and historical context of the bustling Parisian train station. By incorporating data from historical maps, city plans, and architectural artifacts, the reconstruction unveils the intricacies of the station’s design and urban surroundings that Monet’s brushstrokes abstracted. The choice of a monochromatic blueprint aesthetic contrasts with Monet’s vibrant color palette, shifting the focus from atmospheric light and motion to the station’s spatial depth, architectural rhythm, and industrial grandeur. This reinterpretation not only extends the visual boundaries of Monet’s original composition but also bridges art and history, inviting viewers to explore the intersection of impressionism’s fleeting impressions with the tangible reality of its time. )
Claude Monet (1872
This reconstruction of Claude Monet’s Impression, Sunrise (1872) reinterprets the iconic painting by meticulously mapping the bustling port of Le Havre as it stood in the late 19th century. Drawing from historical maps, maritime logs, and architectural records, the project translates Monet’s luminous and ephemeral brushwork into a detailed blueprint-style depiction, highlighting the port’s industrial structures and maritime activity. The monochromatic, technical aesthetic replaces the painting’s soft atmospheric glow with precise lines and spatial depth, emphasizing the physical and economic significance of Le Havre during this period. By reframing the harbor’s transient beauty through a factual lens, this work deepens the context of Monet’s inspiration, offering a richer narrative that bridges Impressionism’s fleeting impressions with the enduring realities of its historical and industrial backdrop. )
Claude Monet (1872)
This reconstruction of Claude Monet’s Vétheuil (1872) reimagines the serene riverside village through a precise architectural and historical perspective, unveiling the structural and geographic details that shaped the idyllic scene. By utilizing historical maps, local records, and architectural studies, the project transforms Monet’s soft, atmospheric rendering into a blueprint-style visualization that captures the village’s layout, the Seine’s pathways, and the architectural character of Vétheuil’s iconic church and surrounding homes. The shift to a monochromatic technical aesthetic replaces the impressionist focus on light and color with an emphasis on spatial organization and structural detail, offering a new lens to understand the village’s historical essence. This reinterpretation provides a layered narrative, juxtaposing Monet’s emotive brushstrokes with the tangible realities of Vétheuil’s environment, enriching the viewer’s understanding of the interplay between place and artistic inspiration.