aileen bordman captures claude monet's blooming giverny gardens in NY photo exhibition

Leila Heller Gallery hosts exhibition with monet’s garden images

Leila Heller Gallery in New York presents the debut exhibition of the American photographer Aileen Bordman, Monet’s Garden, showcasing a series of works that transport viewers to the iconic gardens of Claude Monet in Giverny, France. Running until May 3rd, 2025, the exhibition showcases 15 photographs capturing the Impressionist master’s garden, which he considered his ‘one and only masterpiece.’ From sweeping vistas of the Japanese Bridge and the waterlily-covered Bassin to intimate studies of Monet’s floral harmonies, Bordman’s images evoke the painterly qualities of Impressionism in a new medium.

Aileen Bordman, Giverny: 80, 2016, archival pigment print, edition 1 of 4 + 1 AP, signed on verso, 40 x 60 in. (101.6 x 152.4 cm), framed: 44 x 64 in.

Aileen Bordman spent over four decades studying giverny

Aileen Bordman, an author and filmmaker renowned for her expertise on Monet, spent decades studying Giverny, developing a deep understanding of the artist’s approach to planting and composition. Using Sony cameras equipped with Zeiss lenses—the same brand Monet used in his spectacles—she captures the light, colors, and nature that shaped the vision of the artist. ‘For over forty years, I have observed how Giverny has transformed, yet Monet’s vision remains intact,’ shares the photographer. ‘Through my work, I seek to convey the serenity, energy, and intricate beauty of the garden, inspiring others to experience its magic.’

The exhibition also sheds light on the historical significance and ongoing preservation efforts of the garden. Monet’s estate fell into neglect after his death in 1926, only to be revived decades later through a meticulous restoration spearheaded by art historian Gérald Van der Kemp. Dame Helen Rappel Bordman, Bordman’s mother, played a crucial role in this effort, working alongside French authorities and philanthropists to secure funding and ensure the garden’s revival. Today, Giverny attracts thousands of visitors daily, yet it remains a delicate ecosystem, dependent on careful stewardship in the face of environmental challenges. ‘Bordman’s photographs encapsulate not only Monet’s artistic spirit but also the dedication of the many hands that maintain his legacy. Beneath their beauty lies an awareness of the fragility of this masterpiece, threatened by climate change and the passage of time,’ notes the curator of the exhibition, Janis Gardner Cecil.

Aileen Bordman, Giverny: 78, 2016, archival pigment print, edition 1 of 6 + 2 APs, signed on verso, 20 x 30 in. (50.8 x 76.2 cm), framed: 24 x 34 in.

Aileen Bordman, Giverny: 83, 2014, archival pigment print, edition 1 of 10 + 2 Aps, signed on verso, 14 x 12 in. (35.56 x 30.48 cm), framed: 18 x 16 in.

Aileen Bordman, Giverny: 28, 2016, archival pigment print, edition 1 of 4 + 1 AP, signed on verso 40 x 60 in. (101.6 x 152.4 cm), framed: 44 x 64 in.

Aileen Bordman, Giverny: 74, 2016, archival pigment print, edition 1 of 6 + 2 APs, signed on verso, 20 x 30 in. (50.8 x 76.2 cm), framed: 24 x 34 in.

Aileen Bordman, Giverny: 35, 2016, archival pigment print, edition 1 of 6 + 2 Aps, signed on verso, 20 x 30 in. (50.8 x 76.2 cm), framed: 24 x 34 in.

Aileen Bordman, Giverny: 96, 2019, archival pigment print, edition 1 of 10 + 2 APs, signed on verso, 14 x 12 in. (35.56 x 30.48 cm), framed: 18 x 16 in.

Aileen Bordman, Giverny: 07, 2018, archival pigment print, edition 1 of 6 + 2 Aps, signed on verso 20 x 30 in. (50.8 x 76.2 cm), framed: 24 x 34 in.

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Aileen Bordman, Giverny: 47, 2018, archival pigment print, edition 1 of 4 + 1 AP, signed on verso, 40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm), framed: 44 x 34 in.

Aileen Bordman, Giverny: 02, 2014, archival pigment print, edition 1 of 4 + 1 AP, signed on verso, 40 x 40 in. (101.6 x 101.6 cm), framed: 44 x 44 in.