How did Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny become part of his art?

Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny became an integral part of his art by serving as both a physical sanctuary and a primary source of inspiration for his later work. In 1893, Monet purchased marshland near his home and diverted a branch of the Epte River to construct a water-lily pond, which he designed specifically "for the pleasure of the eye, and for motifs to paint".123

The garden functioned as a major work of environmental art where Monet meditated and painted for nearly 30 years. Key features, such as the Japanese-style footbridge and the exotic water lilies, became his favorite subjects, which he painted repeatedly to capture varying light and atmospheric conditions.124

As his Impressionism became more subjective, these garden motifs evolved into an "encompassing environment" that transcended the traditional frame. This culminated in his final, monumental series of Water Lilies, a cycle of huge murals designed to encircle the viewer, which were eventually installed in the Orangerie in Paris.123