2026 marks a century after the passing of beloved Impressionist artist, Claude Monet. The museum devoted to his work in Giverny, the community north of Paris that has become synonymous with Monet and the water lilies and gardens he immortalized on canvas, presents a retrospective exhibition.
Through dozens of paintings from other collections gathered together in their place of origin for the event, the exhibit traces the journey of the struggling artist as he found his footing – and fresh artistic inspiration - in his new home in Normandy. You can see Impressionism take shape through works painted not in studios but outdoors in the sunshine, which experiment with light, color, and the perception of landscape. This was when Monet was developing the groundwork for Impressionism – even as he laid the groundwork for his cherished gardens that became the basis of masterpieces we remember him by today.
Claude Monet (1840-1926) The Seine near Giverny, 1885
Paris, Musée Marmottan Monet, legs de Michel Monet, 1966, inv. 5175
“Before the Water Lilies” features Monet’s interpretations of landscapes, poppies, poplars, and banks of the Seine River, as well as ordinary yet idyllic perspectives of the pastoral Norman countryside, such as the haystacks that became an early signature for the artist. In 1890, Monet acquired his home in Giverny, enabling him to begin transforming the gardens, eventually including the pond with the bridge and water lilies that became the focus of his most famous masterworks.
In addition to the temporary exhibition, pay a pilgrimage to Claude Monet and Impressionism in more places in Normandy and Paris.
Normandy
Giverny: At the Fondation Claude Monet, you can walk through the painter’s flower gardens and Japanese-inspired water lily pond still just as he painted them (pictured, above. Image: Getty). The artist lived here, championing Impressionism, from 1883 until his death in 1926.
Honfleur: The idyllic and historic harbor, with colorful buildings circling it and reflected in the water, was a key location for the development of Impressionism. Monet’s mentor, Eugène Boudin, painted the harbor and encouraged young artists to paint outdoors rather than in studios. His harbor painting is an early Impressionist treasure and part of the collections at Musee Eugene Boudin.
Rouen: This historic Norman town’s cathedral became a repeated subject for Monet. By painting the same subject again and again as the weather and light changed, Monet demonstrated the core idea of Impressionism — that color, shadow, and atmosphere transform our perception of a place from moment to moment. Standing in the cathedral square today, travelers can see the exact view Monet studied so obsessively.
Paris:
Musee de l’Orangerie: Here, eight monumental water lily murals (pictured, top) fill two oval rooms with soft, overhead, natural light, designed specifically according to Monet’s instructions when he donated them to the nation as a symbol of peace following the First World War. The paintings were designed to surround viewers in a continuous panorama of water, reflections, and sky, creating what Monet envisioned as a peaceful, immersive environment rather than a traditional gallery experience.
Musée d'Orsay: nearby, this museum completes the story of Impressionism with one of the world’s greatest collections of works by Monet and his contemporaries, including Renoir, Degas, Pissarro, and others.
Unpack Once, Immerse Yourself in Impressionism on a Seine River Cruise
Do a deep dive into Impressionism and its roots on a Seine River cruise round trip from Paris to Normandy, which takes you to Giverny and other Impressionist landmarks.
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