The artwork “Stacks of Wheat (End of Day, Autumn)” is a stunning oil on canvas painting by the renowned French artist Claude Monet, created during the period of 1890-1891 in Giverny, France. This painting is part of the influential “Haystacks” series that captures the rural beauty and transient light of the countryside. It resides in the Art Institute of Chicago, measuring 65 by 100 centimeters, and is a quintessential example of the Impressionism movement. Genre-wise, the piece is categorized as a landscape.
The artwork features two prominent haystacks in the center, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. The background presents a gentle gradient of colors, indicative of dusk with a slightly cool sky transitioning into warmer tones near the horizon. The haystacks themselves are rendered in a harmonious blend of reds, oranges, and purples — reflecting Monet’s acute observation of light’s effect on color at different times of the day. Their rounded shapes dominate the painting, offering a sense of solidity against the more ethereal quality of the encroaching shadows. The foreground is composed of textured brushstrokes depicting the rough grass of the field, which suggests the passage of a breeze through movement and variance in hues. The shadows cast by the haystacks stretch across the field, further enhancing the feeling of the sun’s descent.
Overall, the artwork captures the essence of Impressionism, with Monet’s signature use of color and light to evoke a moment’s atmosphere rather than a detailed representation. It is both a shimmering portrayal of the French countryside and a testament to the transient effects of natural light, embodying the fleeting moments that Monet sought to immortalize on canvas.
