Paul SIGNAC writes to Claude MONET about his Water Lilies.

Paul SIGNAC (1863-1935)

Autograph letter signed to Claude Monet.

Two pages in-8° on letterhead of the Society of Independent Artists.

14 rue de l'Abbaye [Paris] January 6, 1925.

“I would have been happy to go to Giverny to present my wishes to you. »

Beautiful letter of wishes from Signac to the master of Impressionism – testimony to a long friendship between the two painters – evoking the future installation of Monet's Water Lilies at the Musée de l'Orangerie.

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“ Dear Mr. Monet, I send you, with my respectful regards, my best wishes for this new year . For us, it will be beautiful if we have the joy of seeing your great decorations in place. I have a lot of worries at the moment about the Independents, deprived this year of the Grand Palais. Otherwise, I would have made a point of going to Giverny to present my wishes to you. Please accept, dear Mr. Monet, the homage of my respectful friendships, and to distribute my compliments and my friendships around you. Paul Signac. »

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In 1883, Signac met Monet for the first time. Admiring, he wrote to her: “For two years I have been painting, having only ever had your works as a model and following the great path that you have opened to us. (…) I would be happy to be able to present to you five or six of my studies according to which you could judge me and give me some of the advice that I need so much, because in short I have horrible doubts, having always worked alone, without master, without support, without criticism! » From this meeting, followed a friendship of more than 40 years.

Offered to France by Claude Monet, the very day after the armistice of November 11, 1918, as a symbol of peace, the Water Lilies were installed according to his plans, at the Orangerie Museum in 1927, a few months after his death. .

Co-founder in 1884, then president of the Salon of Independent Artists in 1908, Paul Signac took to heart this function which became a true priesthood. The Salon des Indépendants will become a mecca for modern French art. The creators of the Fauvist, futuristic, even abstract movements took off there.