Denver Art Museum director Christoph Heinrich remembers his first introduction to Claude Monet鈥檚 work as a teenager.
鈥淚t was a postcard of 鈥榃ater Lilies鈥� that I had forever in my room,鈥� Heinrich said. 鈥淭hat taught me that a painting is more than just a depiction of something pretty.鈥�
The DAM is the sole U.S. site showcasing the new exhibit, 鈥淐laude Monet: The Truth of Nature.鈥� Featuring more than 120 works, the show spans Monet鈥檚 entire career and examines his relationship with nature.
Tickets for the exhibit, which opens Monday, have been selling steadily since it was announced 鈥� including purchasers from across the country. It鈥檚 not the first time a coup by the DAM has garnered such interest, Heinrich said. Exclusive exhibits including 鈥淏ecoming Van Gogh鈥� in 2012 and 2014鈥檚 鈥淏rilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century鈥� also brought visitors from outside the state who came specifically for the exhibitions.
鈥淚t really turned out that people come to Denver if there鈥檚 something wonderful like this to see,鈥� he said.
Marquee names like Monet also help usher in crowds the DAM might not normally see.
鈥淚 think impressionism is a wonderful 鈥榞ateway drug鈥� to the arts,鈥� Heinrich said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the thing a lot of people get hooked by.鈥�
While the old masters might be a little too religious or dated, impressionism is often something that everyone can relate to, he said. And before long you realize there鈥檚 a lot more to it than just 鈥減retty paintings.鈥�
鈥淚t is really a very serious dialogue with the medium as well as the motif 鈥� nature in the case of Monet,鈥� Heinrich said.
opens Oct. 21 and runs through Feb. 2, 2020 at the Denver Art Museum.
