Water Lilies 1907

Monet made these Water Lilies with oil paint, and, you know, I can just imagine him outside by the pond, looking at the light dance on the water. You see how the brushstrokes are kind of loose? They’re not trying to capture every little detail. Instead, it’s about feeling the light and atmosphere. I bet Monet was trying to catch a fleeting moment, something that was always changing. It's like he's asking, can painting capture something so slippery? There are so many shades of green and blue in the painting, all mixed together in these soft daubs. And then, bam, little pops of yellow and pink from the lilies themselves. Those colours make the whole thing sing. It reminds me of the way painters like Joan Mitchell used colour to express feeling. These water lilies, and the paintings they inspired, got Monet thinking about something bigger, and it’s so inspiring for other artists to see. It makes me want to grab a brush and get lost in the possibilities.