The documentary Monet and the Water Lilies, Eternity Rediscovered aired on Arte on October 11 and is now available on the channel's streaming platform. The film explores the journey of one of the most iconic works by the French impressionist painter Claude Monet, which was initially misunderstood and later celebrated by international admirers. This rediscovery led to what is now known as the "Monet-mania." The documentary, directed by Anne-Cécile Genre, a collaborator of Beaux Arts magazine, highlights this slow but profound appreciation of Monet's Water Lilies series, which has become a cornerstone of modern art. The story begins in 1889 at the World's Fair in Paris, where Monet first saw the colorful water lilies at the Trocadéro. This exotic plant, a hybrid created by horticulturist Latour-Marliac, had previously only been available in white in Europe. The vivid colors captivated Monet, inspiring him to cultivate his own water lilies. However, this dream would take years to materialize. Monet purchased a house in Giverny in 1883, but it wasn't until the late 1890s that he transformed the area into a "water garden" by altering the river's course and employing horticultural experts. From then on, the water lilies became a central theme in his art. Over the next three decades, Monet painted nearly 300 canvases of the lilies, depicting them in various settings—from the Japanese garden to the pond's surface. The artist described these works as "eternity in a drop of water." However, Monet considered these paintings unfinished and refused to exhibit or sell them during his lifetime. Despite the artist's reluctance, the Water Lilies eventually found their place in the Orangerie Museum in Paris, where they were intended to be displayed in a special setting designed by Monet himself. However, the public initially did not embrace the work, and the paintings were even hidden away during World War II. It was only after the war that international interest in Monet's work grew, particularly in the United States and Japan, leading to a renewed appreciation for the Water Lilies. Today, the Orangerie and Giverny are popular tourist destinations, but their global recognition is largely due to the efforts of foreign admirers.