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Nymphéa

Eugène Atget

1922

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Early Modern

Dominant colour

Nymphéa is a 1922 by Eugène Atget, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Eugène Atget
When & what style?: 1922
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

You see a close-up photo of white water lilies floating in a dark pond. The petals glow against the murky water. A few green leaves frame the edges. Atget shot this in the 1920s at Bagatelle Park in Paris. He spent years photographing the city’s parks and streets. This shot shows his skill with natural light. Look up Eugène Atget (French, 1857–1927) next.

The story of this work

Overview

A prolific Parisian artist who enjoyed a three-decade career, Atget was one of the most important and original photographers active at the beginning of the 20th century. This sparkling landscape of a mass of white water lily blossoms (Nymphéa) is among Atget's best compositions, created in the 1920s, when he was at the height of his artistic prowess. This scene, full of luxurious botany, was probably taken in Bagatelle Park at the edge of Paris's Bois de Boulogne. He carefully focused on the floating plants and their sculptured flowers, detailing texture and shape. The early morning…

Read the full account in the museum source.