Claude Monet ‘Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies’

Landscape is a noble, classical genre of painting. But it’s really just a step away from cranky abstraction. That’s what comes to mind when you are first introduced to Claude Monet and his ‘Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies.’ Describing shape through color, light and texture, the pioneer of Impressionism encourages us to feel the world rather than see it. And it’s working!

A bit of history

The bridge actually existed in a water lily garden set out by Monet himself. Back in the day, he bought a piece of land with a pond meaning to turn it into a ‘pleasure of the eye’ and inspiration for future paintings. The plan was quite a success, as evidenced by a series of landscapes depicting a wooden bridge over a pond full of beautiful lilies. Monet created a total of twelve paintings at different times of the day and year. This one was painted in summer. It is also the only vertically oriented picture in the series. The artist chose this format to focus the viewer’s attention on the flowers and their reflections in the water.

Secrets of the style

The composition of the painting is rather simple: an unremarkable footbridge arched over a small pond with large clusters of lilies, its shores overgrown with lush grasses, tall reeds and branchy trees… But Monet opens our eyes to the hidden charm of this common view. He does it by diversifying the palette a classical artist would have used for the same scenery and allowing himself to play with a brush rather than conforming to the canons. This landscape is a perfect example of the artist’s en-plein-air techniques:

• - Repeated short strokes and touches of unmixed paint are used to depict dozens of water lilies that form a motley yet tender foreground.
• - Foliage shapes and textures are applied layer on layer – there are no clear outlines, just a mess of hues switching each other on as your eyes move around the scenery. Cool green and mauve tints are balanced out by warm dabs of yellow and ochre.
• - The canvas is literally ‘packed’ with paint – it’s so dense and apprehensible that you can nearly breathe in summer air, heavy with plant odors and cricket chirping, and feel the quite, pensive aura of the place.

This adorable landscape can be yours! Carefully replicated from the original down to the smallest nuances, it will add a touch of natural harmony and elegance to your interior. We hope this 100% hand-made reproduction of Monet’s masterpiece will meet your expectations!