“I spent most of my childhood in a garden and by a river with water lilies. I believe my grandfather sought to recreate in his own garden the beauty he experienced in his childhood, inspired by the garden of his tutor and godfather, Claude Monet.

For me, water lilies symbolise summer holidays, a joyful and carefree childhood spent with my brothers. It is only natural that I am drawn to painting them repeatedly—exploring different colors, lights, and sizes. In the same way, I have found endless inspiration in painting Clécy, the village where I grew up—the village of the Water Lilies.”

-Lélia Pissarro