Technical Innovations and Materials

Monet's artistic evolution was supported by practical innovations in materials and techniques. He was among the first to fully exploit the new synthetic pigments that became available in the nineteenth century. Cobalt blue, cadmium yellow, and viridian green expanded his palette and allowed for brighter, more stable colors than traditional pigments.

He experimented with different canvas preparations, sometimes using white grounds for maximum luminosity, other times allowing the beige canvas to show through and unify the composition. His canvases grew larger over time, culminating in the massive Water Lilies panels that required special studio construction.

Monet also innovated in his working methods. He developed a system of numbered canvases for his series paintings, allowing him to work on the right canvas at the right moment. He had special boxes built to transport multiple wet canvases. For the Water Lilies, he had wheeled easels constructed that could be moved around his studio.