Joop van Egmond - Giverny (the church where Monet is buried)

The village of Giverny in Normandy, France, is inextricably linked to the painter Claude Monet. The Impressionist lived in the village from 1883 until his death in 1926. The garden that inspired Monet's paintings is well-known, but Joop van Egmond was more interested in the Saint-Radegonde church.

Monet's final resting place lies behind this church. Van Egmond painted the church in a strongly realistic style with a subdued color palette. The late afternoon light falls on the wall surrounding the church.
Joop van Egmond (1943-2018) was a visual artist active in many disciplines, including drawing, etching, sculpture, and watercolor, acrylic, and oil painting. He is also known by the pseudonym "MOND." His versatility resulted in a variety of movements and techniques.



In his early years, he worked in a strongly naturalistic style, but in his later work, he continued to search for forms of expression that speak the language of simplicity. The almost "primitive" translation of various subjects, in which humanity, in its purest form of joy and emotions, takes center stage, was a growing source of inspiration for him.

His colorful, abstract landscapes were inspired by the work of Frisian painter Gerrit Benner. Like Benner, he was obsessed with the Frisian landscape. The work of the artist collective De Ploeg (Groningen) also had a significant influence on Van Egmond. Expressionist influences are also visible, such as those of the German artist collective Der Blaue Reiter.

Over the past two decades, he has painted colorful oil paintings of Italian, French, and Dutch landscapes. His paintings exude a powerful brushwork and vibrant richness of color.