Water Lilies

In the canon of Western Art, Claude Monet’s Water Lilies holds a place of unique importance. Created by the celebrated French painter during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Water Lilies is not one singular artwork but rather a series of approximately 250 oil paintings, each capturing the serene beauty of his Giverny garden’s pond.

Art Style: Impressionism

Monet, a founding figure of the Impressionist movement, is renowned for his exploration of color, light, and form. The Water Lilies series perfectly encapsulates these Impressionistic principles. As the movement’s name suggests, it was less about capturing an objective reality and more about portraying the ‘impression’ a scene left on the viewer.

In the Water Lilies paintings, Monet dissolved solid forms into delicate, quasi-abstract arrangements of color and light, capturing the fleeting impressions of the water surface. By often avoiding a clear horizon line or focal point, he created an almost immersive experience for the viewer, blending the boundaries between water, flora, and sky.

Year Painted:

The Water Lilies series was a project of immense scale and spanned over decades. Monet began the series around 1897-1899 and continued working on it until his death in 1926. The later works became more abstract as Monet’s cataracts affected his vision.

Why is it Special?

Monet’s Water Lilies series is special for several reasons:

1. Scale: Many of these paintings are mural-sized, a departure from his earlier, more conventionally-sized works.
2. Evolution of Style: The series captures the evolution of Monet’s style from the relatively clear and detailed depictions to the almost abstract visions of his final years, making it a comprehensive study of his artistic progression.
3. Innovative Display: Monet designed the paintings for specific architectural settings, giving him control over how viewers would experience his work. The most famous display is at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris, where the works are set out in two oval rooms, surrounding the viewer.
4. Personal Connection: The paintings depict Monet’s own lily pond in his Giverny garden, demonstrating the artist’s deep connection with nature and his surroundings.
5. Enduring Impact: As some of the most iconic examples of Impressionism, these paintings have influenced generations of artists and remain a touchstone in the discourse of Western art.