Claude Monet’s Water Lilies series is considered a masterpiece of his artistic career. The series consists of approximately 250 oil paintings, which depict the flower garden in Giverny, France, where he lived and painted during the last thirty years of his life. The paintings showcase Monet’s skill in plein-air painting, utilizing the natural light to capture colors accurately.
Monet developed his garden with water lilies imported from Japan as one of its key features. The small round wooden bridge overlooking the pond became a recurrent element in many of the paintings. The series depicts several views of the pond and its lilies, capturing different times of day and weather conditions.
The use of color is an essential aspect that distinguishes Monet’s Water Lilies from other artworks. He combined complementary colors to create harmonious variations showcasing his complete mastery over color theory principles. The background was thoughtfully off-white or pale pink to accentuate vibrancy on top without inducing viewer strains.
Monet’s skill at capturing light and shadows, especially with reflections on water surfaces, makes these pieces a compelling sight even beyond its essence as attractive imagery. Although initially unsuccessful when it was first exhibited in Paris in 1900s due to distortions amid exhibitions like La Gioconda being more popular art subjects back then; nowadays Claude Monet’s lily pads continue to increase their value up to this day while proliferating their recognition as one of his most beloved works among connoisseurs everywhere.
