The Water Lilies

Claude Monet was an Impressionist painter popular in the 1910s-1920s and ever after. When I was in Paris, I went to the Musee de l'Orangerie by myself, because Joel had already gone by this point. I wish he could have come, because I think he would have loved it. Stage one of the museum was designed by Monet himself. Monet donated The Water Lilies to France right after the first World War, because he wanted to give Parisians a peaceful haven by inviting them to contemplate the infinite before painted nature. The first room is completely white; its purpose is to allow visitors to "decompress" before entering Monet's work.

The first room was designed from 1914 until Monet's death in 1926 and are inspired by the water garden at his property Giverny. Monet focuses his attention on the rhythm of light variations. There is little outside perspective, the elements of water, air, sky and earth gives "the illusion of an endless whole, of a horizonless and shoreless wave."

The second room is distinguished by the presence of weeping willow trees. I found this room to be noticeably more moody, which I loved. I think when you look at a Monet painting up close it becomes very apparent how the artist was feeling at the time. Some brushstrokes are broad and thick, while others are fine and meticulously placed. I admire Monet's ability to take such a massive canvas and just start. I think starting a new work can be the most daunting task, but Monet didn't seem to care. He's also not afraid of color, I think because he understands it so well. All of the observations he did of different times of day and different weather conditions are really amazing and teach you so much about color theory. Smart man! If you're ever in Paris, I HIGHLY recommend going to the Musee de l'Orangerie. It's got Monet's rooms, but it has so much more than just that. Amazing museum right next to the Jardin des Tuileries.