Wheatstacks (End of Summer)

Claude Monet’s “Wheatstacks (End of Summer)” is an iconic masterpiece painted in 1891, embodying the pinnacle of Impressionist technique and exploration of light. Monet, one of the leading figures of this revolutionary art movement, broke new ground with this series, using innovative techniques to depict a single subject across different times of day and seasons.

“Wheatstacks (End of Summer)” is part of a series of 25 paintings known as the “Haystacks” or “Wheatstacks” series. These works are celebrated for their emphasis on how the color and form of the subject, haystacks in this case, are dramatically altered by changes in light and atmosphere. This series, including “End of Summer,” represents a significant departure from traditional painting conventions, putting the focus on the ephemeral and perceptual aspects of the landscape rather than its physical characteristics or symbolic importance.

The “Wheatstacks (End of Summer)” painting captures the haystacks during the transition from summer to autumn. The play of light and shadow on the stacks, along with the warm hues of the setting sun, creates a profound sense of tranquility and marks the ending of a cycle of life.

What sets this painting apart, and why it holds a special place in the annals of art history, is Monet’s ability to transform a simple, often overlooked subject, into a canvas of vibrant color and form that evokes emotion and introspection. The haystacks series, including “Wheatstacks (End of Summer),” marked a major step forward in the movement toward abstraction, which would become a central concern of 20th-century art.