Monet settled in Giverny, near Paris, in 1883. In 1890, he purchased a house and land there and filled the pond in his garden with water he brought from a stream, Le Ru, a tributary of River Epte, which is in turn a tributary of the Seine. The lotus blossoms floating in the pond became a subject to which he continually returned. In 1901 and 1902, he bought more land and expanded the pond. From then on, he was absorbed in creating his water lily paintings. In this work, the water’s surface covers the entire canvas, with blossoming water lilies floating here and there. The picture plane is so vibrant it still seems about to leap into motion.