Claude Monet's Water Lilies: A Masterpiece of Impressionism
Claude Monet's Water Lilies (1906) at the Art Institute of Chicago exemplifies Impressionism through its focus on light, color, and fleeting moments. Painted when Monet was 66, the oil-on-canvas work measures 89.9 x 94.1 cm and depicts his water garden in Giverny, France, excluding horizon lines to concentrate on water lilies. The composition employs methodical geometric patterns—circles, ovals, and diagonals aligned on a one-third grid—to create visual movement. Monet rejected Academic conventions, painting en plein air with short brushstrokes and direct color application. The painting reflects his rebellious style and deep connection to his garden, blending objective and subjective experience.
Key facts
- Claude Monet painted Water Lilies in 1906.
- The painting is housed at the Art Institute of Chicago.
- It measures 89.9 cm high by 94.1 cm wide.
- Monet was 66 years old when he painted it.
- The subject is Monet's water garden in Giverny, France.
- Monet rejected Academic style, painting en plein air.
- The composition uses the rule of thirds.
- Water Lilies is an oil on canvas painting.
Entities
Artists
- Claude Monet
- William-Adolphe Bouguereau
- Alexandre Cabanel
- Paul Nadar
Institutions
- Art Institute of Chicago
- RISD Museum
Locations
- Chicago
- IL
- USA
- Giverny
- France
- Paris
- Providence
- RI