Water Lilies (Agapanthus)

Water Lilies (Agapanthus) is a monumental oil on canvas painting created by Claude Monet between 1915 and 1926. This significant work belongs to the late period of the artist’s career, dedicated almost exclusively to rendering his celebrated water garden at Giverny, France.

During this decade, Monet, known for pioneering the Impressionist movement in France, continued to push the boundaries of perception and color. Unlike his earlier, smaller-scale Impressionist landscapes, this painting employs a highly fragmented, expressive technique. Monet rejected traditional perspective, focusing instead on the shimmering surface of the water, reflections of the sky, and the dense arrangement of lilies and aquatic plants. The resulting piece is defined by its vibrant blues and greens, reflecting light without defining a clear horizon line. This intense focus on color and gesture anticipates later movements in abstraction.

The Water Lilies (Agapanthus) cycle comprises several large compositions designed to surround the viewer, originally intended as an immersive decorative environment for the public. This powerful example of late modernism, rooted deeply in French painting traditions, is a cornerstone piece within the esteemed collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Due to the work's historical importance and age, high-quality reference photographs and fine art prints are widely available for study and appreciation, making this iconic Impressionist-era canvas accessible to a global audience.