Painting Giverny

This year marks the centenary of the passing of Claude Monet, one of history’s most influential and beloved artists. One hundred years after his death, his extraordinary vision continues to inspire artists and admirers throughout the world. His mastery of light, colour, and nature remains timeless, inviting each generation to rediscover the beauty, serenity, and emotion that define Impressionism.

It has been one of the greatest privileges of my artistic life to paint at Giverny, the home and gardens of Claude Monet. Through the invitation of Gérald Van der Kemp, the distinguished Chief Curator of the Palace of Versailles—responsible for preserving the Mona Lisa and safeguarding France’s artistic heritage during the Second World War—and his wife, Florence Van der Kemp, I was entrusted with the rare privilege of painting in the curator’s private studio and throughout the gardens that inspired Monet’s greatest masterpieces—an experience that has remained one of the defining honours of my artistic life.

For more than a decade, I returned to Giverny, observing its changing light, reflections, seasons, and quiet rhythms. From the stillness of the lily pond at dawn to the warmth of the evening sun, every day revealed something new. There is a tranquillity that cannot be described until it is experienced. The gardens taught me that painting is not simply about reproducing a landscape, but about capturing its spirit. That lesson continues to guide every canvas I create.

The gardens of Giverny remain the greatest source of inspiration in my work. The confidence Gérald and Florence Van der Kemp placed in my artistic vision, together with the freedom they gave me to paint in this extraordinary setting, shaped my life in ways for which I will always be grateful. To this day, I remain among the very few contemporary artists who continue to have the privilege of painting in these historic gardens, a distinction I hold with deep respect and humility.

On December 5, 2026, the world will commemorate the centenary of Claude Monet’s passing. Museums, cultural institutions, and collectors across the globe will honour his enduring legacy. I am deeply honoured to contribute to this international celebration through significant projects in Paris, undertaken in collaboration with distinguished French institutions, and through a special collection created to commemorate this historic anniversary.

Chicago (Lake Forest) also holds a special place in my artistic journey. As one of the first great American centres to embrace Monet and the Impressionists, it has long celebrated the movement that transformed the history of art. Today, I divide my time between Chicago (Lake Forest), Florida, and the South of France, where I maintain a studio in each location. Yet, wherever I paint, my thoughts are continually drawn back to Giverny. Though separated by an ocean, these places remain connected through their enduring appreciation of Monet’s legacy.

The Centennial Claude Monet Collection is my personal tribute to an artist whose vision changed the world and whose gardens forever changed my own. Every painting in this collection is rooted in lived experience—in moments spent beside the lily pond, beneath the ever-changing light, and within a landscape that continues to inspire my work.

As the world commemorates the centenary of Claude Monet, it is my privilege to share this collection with you. If these paintings allow you to experience even a small measure of the tranquillity, wonder, and inspiration that I have found at Giverny, then they have fulfilled their purpose.

I warmly invite you to visit joseenadeau.com to explore my work, discover the Centennial Claude Monet Collection, and learn more about my upcoming commemorative projects in Paris.

Thank you for joining me in celebrating the enduring legacy of Claude Monet.

Josée Nadeau
Artist