How Monet Paints: Brushwork, Edges, and Palette in the Nymphéas

Brushwork types, edge control, and palette design in Monet’s Water Lilies—what to look for up close.

12/18/2025

18 min read

Detail view of Monet’s Nymphéas brushwork

Step closer: the Water Lilies are a surface phenomenon.

🖌️ Brushwork Types

Long pulls for water continuity.
Scumbles to veil reflections.
Staccato dabs for lily accents.

🎨 Palette Logic

Zone	Dominant hue	Role
Foreground	Warm greens	Proximity
Mid	Violets/blues	Depth
Upper	Cool greys	Sky veil

Detail

Edges melt into water; let your eyes float.

🧭 Reading Strategy

Track strokes across joins.
Note temperature shifts by zone.
Compare reflections vs lily accents.

🧪 Brushwork Taxonomy

Type	Tool	Effect
Pull	Long brush	Continuity
Scumble	Dry brush	Veiled reflection
Dab	Tip	Accent + rhythm

$$ ext{Mix Ratio} = rac{ ext{pigment}}{ ext{oil}} quad ext{(varies by stroke)} $$

About the Author

Museum Writer

As a longtime museum‑goer and Paris wanderer, I made this guide to help you meet the Orangerie quietly — to notice the light, the stillness, and the human scale that make its paintings feel close.