The Garden as Laboratory

Giverny became Monet's private laboratory for investigating light, color, and perception. Unlike plein air painters who traveled in search of motifs, Monet created his subjects at home, controlling variables while still working from nature. The garden allowed him to study the same subjects under every conceivable condition of light and weather.

His daily routine revolved around the garden's light. He rose before dawn to catch the early morning effects, worked through the morning until the light became too harsh, rested during midday, then returned for evening sessions. He had painting stations throughout the garden, with canvases left in various locations ready for the right moment. Gardeners were instructed to maintain paths that allowed him to move quickly between viewpoints as conditions changed.

The controlled environment of Giverny allowed Monet to push his serial investigations further than ever before. He could return to the exact same spot day after day, season after season, year after year. This repetition, far from breeding staleness, led to ever-deeper investigations of perception. The garden became not just subject matter but a tool for philosophical and artistic inquiry.