For the next six years, Monet painted the water lilies floating on his pond. Every summer he followed a rigorous routine. He rose at dawn and set up his easel at the water’s edge to catch the first glimmer of morning light. As the sun rose, he took shelter under a large white parasol, working into the early afternoon with only a brief break for lunch. Around three in the afternoon, Monet rested for a few hours. He often returned to the pond after the lilies had closed to observe them in the waning evening light.
