A new Monet exhibit has recently opened at the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, but it isn’t Claude Monet, the name one may first think of. For the first time ever in the United States, the artwork of impressionist artist Blanche Hoschedé-Monet is on display at the Eskenazi.
An event was held celebrating the gallery’s opening Feb. 14, the Blanche Hoschedé-Monet in the Light Celebration, which unveiled the gallery at the Eskenazi Museum. Eskenazi events coordinator Zoey Roman said the event had a significant turnout, with a consistent crowd of over 100 people throughout the evening. The museum’s interim director, Mariah Keller, began the event with a speech highlighting the significance of the first U.S. exhibition of Hoschedé-Monet’s work. Additionally, pianist Aaron Wonson and cellist Kyle Johnson of the Jacobs School of Music performed at the event. Student tour guides were stationed around the gallery to introduce the display to visitors.
Blanche Hoschedé-Monet was a late 19th and early 20th century French impressionist painter. When her family experienced financial struggles, they moved in with famed artist Claude Monet and his family. Hoschedé-Monet eventually married Monet’s son, and worked closely with the elder artist until he died. Eskenazi’s art-based wellness manager Keaton Evans-Black said that for a period of time, Hoschedé-Monet worked as Monet’s assistant and even painted alongside him.
“They both went to the same locations and painted the same landscapes at the same time,” Evans-Black said.
Eskenazi’s public experiences manager Keaton Clulow said in an email to the Indiana Daily Student that Hoschedé-Monet’s art is deeply influenced by Claude Monet’s while maintaining its own unique heart and character. He was her artistic mentor, and her work drew direct inspiration from his teachings.
“This is not to say that she was a carbon copy of Monet,” Clulow wrote. “As I see it, her paintings had a different compositional approach and are just a bit more withdrawn at times. I’ve seen the phrase ‘pure impressionism’ used to describe her work, and I think that’s an apt description.”
According to Clulow, many of her works belong to private collections in France and are often quite difficult to track down. This exhibition is supported by a variety of sponsors, including the Jane Fortune Fund for the Advancement of Women Artists.
Since there are few opportunities to view Hoschede-Monet’s work, her gallery at the Eskenazi gives visitors the unique chance to appreciate her work.
“We have a fantastic chance to share this remarkable artist with new audiences and offer opportunities for further research and exploration,” Clulow wrote.
In addition to the gallery being the first time Hoschedé-Monet’s work has been displayed in the U.S., Clulow said the publication of the show’s catalog is the first ever English publication on Hoschede-Monet’s life and work. Not only does the gallery provide a unique look at Hoschedé-Monet’s art, but it also provides an educational perspective on her life.
The Blanche Hoschedé-Monet in the Light Gallery is now open to the public every day except Mondays. The gallery will be on display at the museum until June 15 and is free to attend.
