Artwork
Water Lilies (Agapanthus)
Water Lilies (Agapanthus) is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist Claude Monet. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1960.81
- Credit line
- John L. Severance Fund and an anonymous gift
About this work
Overview
Claude Monet devoted the final three decades of his career to depicting the garden he created at his Giverny residence. This large‑scale canvas, titled Water Lilies (Agapanthus), concentrates exclusively on the pond’s surface, presenting a field of lily pads illuminated by shifting sunlight.
Subject & Meaning
The composition eliminates any hint of horizon or surrounding bank, directing attention to the interplay of light and water. By isolating the reflective surface, Monet suggests an infinite space, inviting viewers to contemplate the transient qualities of illumination.
Technique & Style
Executed on a monumental horizontal panel, the work is built up with multiple, thick applications of paint. The textured brushwork captures the rippling effect of light on water, creating a sense of movement despite the stillness of the scene.
History & Provenance
Monet worked on his large water‑lily series over many years, refining each canvas through successive layers. Water Lilies (Agapanthus) entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on display.
Context
Part of a broader series that documents Monet’s private garden, the painting reflects his horticultural expertise and his preoccupation with capturing fleeting atmospheric conditions, a hallmark of his late Impressionist practice.
Artist & collection
Artist
Oscar-Claude Monet was a French painter and founder of Impressionism who is seen as a key precursor to modernism, especially in his attempts to paint nature as he perceived it.
