Artwork

Pond with Water Lilies

Pond with Water Lilies, by Claude Monet, oil, 1907
Pond with Water Lilies, by Claude Monet, oil, 1907

Pond with Water Lilies is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Claude Monet. It dates from 1907 and is held in the collection of the Israel Museum.

About this work

Overview

Claude Monet’s 1907 oil on canvas entitled *Pond with Water Lilies* presents a quiet pond surface populated by floating lilies. The composition centers on green pads dotted with pink and white blossoms, while the water mirrors the surrounding foliage. The scene conveys a calm, reflective atmosphere that invites quiet contemplation.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts Monet’s garden pond, focusing on the interplay of water, plant life, and light. By emphasizing the delicate lilies and their reflections, the painting explores themes of transience and the fleeting effects of natural illumination, encouraging viewers to consider the subtle changes occurring within a seemingly static environment.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil, the canvas showcases Monet’s characteristic loose brushwork, especially in the background where trees and shrubs dissolve into soft, feathery strokes. His palette balances cool greens with warm pinks and whites, while layered washes create depth and a sense of atmospheric perspective, typical of his late Impressionist approach.

History & Provenance

Completed in 1907, the painting entered the collection of the Israel Museum, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to representing key works of French Impressionism and provides a European context within its broader holdings of modern art.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Claude Monet

Artist

Claude Monet

Oscar-Claude Monet was born in Paris on November 14, 1840, and raised from the age of five in Le Havre, where he began selling charcoal caricatures as a teenager.

Israel Museum

Museum

Israel Museum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Israel Museum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.