CLAUDE MONET: Life and Art

Another study on the significance of water lilies? Tucker (Art/Univ. of Mass., Boston) admits that the fertile field of Monet studies has been well plowed, but he claims that Monet remains more enigmatic than all the consistent reports of his life would lead one to believe. Not merely the sensitive man seeking nature and self-expression, Monet was also politically savvy, tightfisted, and full of self-doubt. Tucker here sorts through the complexities of the man, drawing heavily on his two previous studies for two long chapters on Monet in Argenteuil and Monet in the 1890s. He illustrates the volume with images not only by Monet, but also of Monet and his surroundings, as well as works by artists, such as Boudin, who influenced his art. Although splattered with comments of dubious insight (e.g., ""Monet worked hard to get everything exactly the way we see it""), this is a solid account of the artist's life and work.