Water Lilies (Agapanthus)

About this work

This painting shows a pond covered in lily pads with sunlight dancing on the water’s surface. Monet painted it near the end of his life, focusing only on the water and its shifting light—no horizon, no sky, just reflections. He worked on these giant canvases for years, layering paint thickly to create texture. The effect makes the water look alive, moving even when it’s still. Try standing close to get lost in the brushstrokes, then step back to see the glow. Find it at The Cleveland Museum of Art.