Monet moved to Giverny in 1883. After laying out his garden, which itself resembles a painting, he created the lily pond, a Japanese-inspired water garden accompanied with weeping willows, bamboo and Japanese peonies. The wooden bridge further accentuated the oriental atmosphere of this botanical masterpiece.
For 25 years, he drew inspiration from this beautiful spot, seeking to capture the changing reflections of the water in his pictures.
Walking over this bridge spanning the pond or entering the artist’s bedroom today offers a unique experience of the painter’s private life. Not far from here, the Musée des impressionnismes Giverny proposes temporary exhibitions devoted to the impressionist movement and is home to a permanent exhibition, “Monet in the Middle”.
This painting is exhibited at the Musée d’Orsay, in Paris.
The moment I set foot in Giverny, I immediately realised that it’s more than just an attractive flower garden or a peaceful pond with a Japanese bridge but a vision of Monet himself. I’m today very thankful that I was able to experience this, as Monet is a painter for whom I have a great deal of respect. In the magical world of this great visionary, I was able to lose myself in my dreams for a while and this photo is result of that experience.
Yasuhiro Ogawa
