Monet's "Les Nymphéas" (The Water Lilies)

 

Monet's Les Nymphéas exhibit in Musée de l'Orangerie is composed of 8 paintings that each depict a different view of Monet's water garden. The paintings are displayed in two oval rooms, with four paintings in each room. They are all the same height, but the lengths vary in order to be able to display them in the dimensions of the room. When you walk into the rooms you are immediately immersed in the breathtaking beauty of this installation. A sense of peace falls over you and you find yourself lost in these paintings. Monet's brushwork and attention to how light and movement interact in nature are apparent when you look at these works. Each painting offers a new view of Monet's garden and (especially if you've had to privilege to be there yourself) you can picture exactly how the light must have reflected off the water, how the clouds must have swirled in the sky, or how the lilies were floating in the water.

This installation of Les Nymphéas was not always respected and admired by the public. Throughout the years it was hidden away by other exhibits. However, eventually people came to their senses and began to recognize this exhibit for the masterpiece that it is. These works are important because they represent the culmination of Monet's work and show his skill with light and nature. From a broader outlook, these paintings are important because they are part of the start of the French impressionist movement. Monet is now a world renowned artist and is known as a founder of impressionism and modernism. We are incredibly fortunate to have his works accessible and displayed in such a beautiful way.

This exhibit is another example of an artwork that draws people from all over the world to admire it and bask in its beauty. It also depicts the beauty that Paris and France have to offer. Monet was a French artist and he was very specific with the way that he wanted these paintings to be displayed. He gave them to France and the Orangerie before his death, with specific instructions for them. This was because he wanted people to be able to admire them and to experience the beauty that he was able to see and uniquely depict. This installation adds to the artistic environment of Paris and helps continue the image of Paris as a center of innovation in art and culture.

https://www.musee-orangerie.fr/fr/collection/les-nympheas-de-claude-monet