Claude Monet. Four Poplars. 1891

Monet made a series of paintings of views of poplars along the Epte River at Giverny during summer and fall 1891 in different time and weather (Lambourne 50). Monet is known for his deep interest in and collection of Japanese art including Hokusai’s works. Because of that and his obvious use of Japanese art as references in other works, it was pointed out that there’s a very much possibility that the series of Poplars were inspired by Hokusai’s; Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, which also shows the Fuji in different weather and at different times (Lambourne 50). Not only the idea of depicting the same object in different conditions, I see a strong similarity of the composition between this piece with the Station of Hodogaya by Hokusai, in the way of depicting the scene from a lateral view while showing the sky through the trees which are arranged evenly.