Eugène Grasset – Original Lithograph “Water-Lily” (No. 9) from La Plante et ses Applications Ornementales (1896)

The quiet elegance of the water-lily reimagined through Art Nouveau sensibility.

This extraordinary plate by Eugène Grasset features the water-lily (Nénuphar), rendered with both botanical accuracy and ornamental imagination. In the upper part, the flower floats serenely in its natural setting. At the center, it transforms into rhythmic, stylized patterns: sinuous petals, fluid lines, and graceful symmetry evoke the calm of water and the harmony of decorative arts. The bottom portion illustrates a suggested application — possibly for stained glass, ceramics, or textile panels.

A Symbolic Masterpiece

A sacred flower in ancient cultures and a timeless emblem of renewal and inner peace, the water-lily becomes, in Grasset’s vision, a visual metaphor of contemplation and beauty. Ideal for serene interiors, botanical collections, and Art Nouveau lovers.

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Details

• Artist: Eugène Grasset (1845–1917)

• Plate title: Water-Lily (Nénuphar)

• Plate number: 9

• Technique: Original color lithograph

• Year: 1896

• Sheet size: approx. 45 × 32 cm

• Condition: Excellent; light age-related wear consistent with the period

• Provenance: Original edition by Charles Gillot, Paris

A poetic and serene icon of botanical harmony — ideal for collectors and interior design spaces focused on calm and beauty.