The beautiful nympheas were laid by Monet having completed the earliest stages of his new garden. It would take many years before he could appreciate views such as this, as everything took time to develop and integrate together. If we take a closer look at this particular painting, we find that no edge of the pond is included, making this a fairly open piece which serves more of a purpose of delivering colour and aesthetic pleasure rather than composing a fuller depiction of his overall garden. Early on, Monet prefered to do the latter, before later working in this more abstract style where the focus is entirely devoted to specific elements of the surface of the pond.
This was an artist who famously studied the changing conditions of his local environment, often using objects as a way of displaying these differences. We are all aware of how he studied the impact of light and season on haystacks, poplars and also the facade of the Cathedral in Rouen, but it was his work within his own garden that became so memorable and also so comprehensive. The example found here does not go into too much detail in some aspects, such as the lilies closest to the viewer. Sometimes he would leave paintings unfinished, but other times he would deliberately reduce detail as part of a study artwork or simply to leave a more abstract finish.
When looking at the larger photograph of the painting below, you will be able to see some of the expressive brushstrokes used by Monet. We can imagine him being lost within himself as he applied these bright tones of colour across the large expanse of this canvas. He kept many paintings within his own studio, some of which were never really documented until after his death, as historians attempted to produce an accurate account of his entire career. These paintings were also highly personal to him, capturing moments of time within his own garden, something that he had also worked hard to put together. In later life he would employ up to six gardeners at the same time in order to ensure that the maintenance was carried out correctly.
