The Subject: Monet designed the garden himself, drawing heavy inspiration from Japanese woodblock prints he collected. He diverted a local river to create the pond and built the arched bridge, which became his primary focus for the last 30 years of his life.
The Style: This work is a hallmark of Impressionism, characterized by short, textured brushstrokes and a focus on how light changes the appearance of water and foliage.
Interesting Detail
In the original painting, Monet signed his name in a dark red, matching the undersides of the water lilies. This was a deliberate choice to use a "complementary color" to make the signature pop against the dominant greens of the pond.
