Book Pairings for Modern Art, Part 2

An afternoon at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City

A few weeks ago, I wrote about five paintings that caught my eye at MoMA, and book pairings for each one. I had so much fun analyzing the paintings, learning about their artists, and placing them in the context of various artistic movements — all in order to understand what books might have similar themes, motifs, or histories. Part 1 was free to all. Check it out when you have a moment; you might discover a new favorite!

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Alright, without further ado, on to the art:

Water Lilies

Claude Monet

Water Lilies 1914-26, Claude Monet | MoMA

As Claude Monet neared the end of his life, he painted about 250 versions of his favorite subject, water lilies. The artist was famous for painting en plein air, or in nature, as opposed to cooped up in a studio, like artists had done for centuries. His extensive grounds at Giverny provided a natural tableau from which he could take inspiration; however, he did not just find the place in a state of perfect natural beauty. He transformed the area from farming land into a lush forest of flowers from all over the world, ultimately hiring six gardeners to help maintain the area.

For a painting that involves such care and attention to nature, I cannot help but