Nymphéas (Water Lilies)
Painting on canvas • Claude Monet (1840-1926)
Style & Movement
French Impressionism / Late Impressionism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; wet-on-wet technique (alla prima) with heavy impasto and visible scumbling to suggest light refraction.
Creation Period
Circa 1914-1917
Dimensions & Format
Approx. 100 x 100 cm (40 x 40 in); Square format
Subject Description
A close-up, immersive study of the water garden at Giverny. The composition focuses on the surface of the pond, featuring floating water lilies and reflected willow branches. It lacks a horizon line or fixed focal point, emphasizing the play of light and atmosphere.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; visible craquelure consistent with age and heavy paint application.
Estimated Market Value
$30,000,000 - $50,000,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$35,000,000 - $45,000,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely from the artist's estate/studio (Michel Monet collection) following the artist's death, eventually entering private or gallery collections through the Durand-Ruel or Wildenstein firms.
Art Historical Significance
A critical precursor to 20th-century Abstract Expressionism. This series represents the pinnacle of Monet's career-long investigation into optical truth and the dissolution of form through light.
Notable Features
Signature at lower right; features the 'unfinished' aesthetic of the late Grandes Décorations period with raw canvas visible at edges.
Condition Issues
Minor age-related cracking (craquelure) and potentially slight yellowing of old varnish; possible minor edge wear from previous framing.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain stable humidity (45-55%) and temperature. Use UV-filtering museum glass if re-framed. Professional surface cleaning to remove accumulated dust.