Water-Lilies 38 by Claude Monet

This late work of absolute poetry is a total immersion into the aquatic universe of the famous garden at Giverny. Entitled “Water-Lilies 38” and created by the immense artist Claude Monet, this canvas marks the peak of the painter’s research on water reflections. The innovative composition abolishes traditional perspective to focus solely on variations of light.

On the surface of a calm pond, several water lilies with pink and white flowers float peacefully among rounded green leaves. On each side of the canvas, the long drooping branches of a weeping willow unfold as a vertical curtain. The water reflects an azure blue and violet sky, dotted with soft cloudy glows of yellow and pink. The depth of the water seems to merge with the celestial vastness, creating a shifting and dreamlike space without spatial landmarks. The horizontal brushstrokes for the water intersect with the vertical lines of the branches, creating a balanced structure.

This work reveals the artist’s unparalleled artisanal craftsmanship and his virtuoso use of oil paint. Through light impastos and overlapping layers of colors, he brilliantly recreates the transparency of the water. It is a monument of modern art.