Monet's Water Lilies: An Artist's Obsession

In 1883 the painter Claude Monet first rented a house in the French town of Giverny. After purchasing the property and adjoining land, the artist transformed an existing small pond into a water garden with water lilies and a Japanese-style bridge from which he could observe the flowers. From 1899 to 1926, Monet painted more than 250 scenes devoted to the water lily theme, which became what he himself called “an obsession.” This book explores the artist’s devotion to this theme.

The book features two essays and forty illustrations. In one essay, Eric Zafran details the development and expansion of Monet’s garden, possible inspirations for its Japonesque style, and the observations of notable writers and photographers pertaining to this late passion of Monet. James Rubin, in his essay, discusses the setting of Monet’s garden within the town of Giverny, the evolution of Monet’s painting technique, specifically relating to the water lily paintings, and the place of this theme in the overall context of Monet’s life and career.