Monet & the Importance of Keeping Perspective

Too much focus on details keeps us from appreciating the big picture

In the days before COVID and working from home, I would find some time every week to take advantage of the close proximity between my office in downtown Milwaukee and the Calatrava-designed Milwaukee Art Museum on the shore of Lake Michigan. In part this was in response to research that shows that a mid-day walk can increase productivity. Wandering through the galleries was also a cathartic experience for a left-brained person spending a lot of time looking at spreadsheets and charts.

One of my favorite spots to linger was in front of Claude Monet's "Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect" (1903). As I would stare at the painting, absorbing the colors and brushstrokes, I would inevitably start to lean in. But the closer I would look at the details, the less perspective I would have about the overall scene.

My greatest appreciation for the painting was when I would move backward a step, take off my glasses, and get a sense of the scene that was being captured. After that, I could lean in to the details - but only for so long. The brush strokes that make it a Monet, became noisy abstractions when observed on their own. With the overall picture in perspective, the brush strokes add incredible richness and distinction.

Details are incredibly necessary, but too much focus on them can obscure perspective and keep us from appreciating the big picture. Whether with art, investing or life in general, get the big picture in focus and details can provide enriching context. Without that perspective, details are distractions and stumbling blocks.