The Water Lily Basin
1917-19
Monet transformed his garden pond in Giverny into a swirling, dreamlike universe, completely removing the horizon line so you feel like you're floating right on the water. Painted while the world was at war, these lush lily pads were his attempt to create a 'refuge of peaceful meditation.' Interestingly, Monet was suffering from cataracts during this time, which messed with his color perception—notice the muddy greens and sudden bursts of red? He was literally painting through a yellowing lens! He created over 250 of these, obsessed with capturing how light dances on water.
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