Pond at Giverny
Artist
William Nichols
(American)
Date1988
MediumWatercolor
Dimensions25 × 42 1/2 in. (63.5 × 108 cm)
ClassificationsDrawing
Object numberUAC2801
DescriptionPond at Giverny shows a bright, nearly overexposed, scene of the surface of some water and the plants along the far bank. Painted in a full range of greens and yellows, the piece expertly shows the way that plantlife gets reflected and distorted in nearby water. In addition to the naturalism, a close up look at the broad flat areas of color that are typical of watercolor works also give a sense of Nichols’ interest in wood-block printing. This type of printmaking, originating in Japan, utilizes large areas of mostly flat color and was a source of inspiration for western artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, and Picasso. In referencing this in his art, Nichols gives this piece a historic feeling in both the echoed past and the pastel nearly-photographic composition. William Nichols studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, earning his B.F.A in 1966 before going on to earn his M.F.A in 1968 from the University of Illinois. Reaching artistic maturity in the 1970’s, his style has been described as “Photo-Impressionist” for the way that Nichols blends the visible brushstroke in the spirit of Monet and keeps a high level of detail in his works. His work seeks to combine the representation of the spaces he paints along with the felt experiences of those places, taking inspiration from the work of Van Gogh. He is represented in many private and public collections, including the Museum of New Art (MONA) in Detroit, Michigan, and the collection of Stanford University.
Written by Alex Heath
