Artwork
Waterlilies Pond, Green Reflection
Waterlilies Pond, Green Reflection is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Claude Monet. It dates from 1923 and is held in the collection of the Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection.
About this work
Overview
Claude Monet’s 1923 oil painting titled Waterlilies Pond, Green Reflection presents a tranquil garden pond. The canvas captures floating water lilies against a surface of green‑toned water that mirrors surrounding foliage, creating a calm, reflective atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on a cluster of pink and white water lilies, some marked with yellow centers, arranged on the pond’s surface. By emphasizing the delicate blossoms amid the muted green water, Monet highlights the interplay between plant life and its watery environment, evoking a sense of quiet contemplation.
Technique & Style
Executed in Monet’s characteristic Impressionist manner, the painting features loose, visible brushstrokes that convey the fleeting effects of light on water. A restrained palette of greens and blues defines the background, while brighter pinks and whites draw the eye to the lilies, establishing depth through color contrast.
History & Provenance
Created toward the end of Monet’s career, the piece entered the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to representing late‑period Impressionist works within its European holdings.
Context
Waterlilies Pond, Green Reflection belongs to Monet’s extensive series of water‑lily studies, a subject he explored repeatedly after establishing his garden at Giverny. The 1923 date places the work among his final explorations of light, atmosphere, and the subtle variations of color in natural settings.
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.
