There’s a kind of peace that settles when you step into a museum — a quiet hush that demands a different pace. And now, within the breathtaking new architecture of the Princeton University Art Museum, there’s a particular piece that offers not just art, but a path to be present in the moment: Claude Monet’s magnificent Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge.

It’s one of a series of approximately 250 oil paintings Monet created of his water garden at Giverny, and seeing it here, hanging against a stunning, contrasting backdrop, is an experience that transcends a simple museum visit. It’s an invitation to practice mindfulness.

This week, at our annual conference for The 1911 Group, formerly Head Mistresses Association of the East, we heard about the importance of mindfulness and breathing by Dr. David Vincent, Buoncore Family Endowed Director of Chiropractic Medicine, University Hospitals in Cleveland. He emphasized the importance of self-care and the fact that it is “not negotiable.” I took this to heart and in a free afternoon slot, I went to the new Art Museum to “pause, connect, and restore” as directed by Dr. Vincent.

If you’ve ever felt a sense of calm or rejuvenation after spending time with a piece of art, there’s science to back it up. Research into mindful museum walks and the practice of “slow looking” suggests profound benefits for well-being. Studies have shown that engaging with art mindfully can reduce stress and anxiety. Slowing down the viewing process also leads to a deeper appreciation for the artist’s technique, color, and composition, resulting in a more meaningful, sometimes even transformative, connection with the artwork. The museum itself becomes a space for mental renewal, a sanctuary from the relentless pace of modern life. 

Standing before Monet’s Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge was, for me, the perfect place to begin this practice. The painting, created in 1899, is an explosion of pale greens, blues, and mauves that almost melt into the forms of the willows and the reflection on the water. Monet himself understood this profound connection to direct observation. He was committed to painting en plein air (outdoors), capturing the ever-shifting conditions of light and atmosphere.

It’s in this careful, unhurried looking that we can truly grasp the awe. That moment when the whole composition, the muted colors, the blending forms, the sheer scale of the vision washes over you, providing a moment of pure, quiet serenity, a feeling of being a witness to something beautiful and immense.

Monet’s own words illuminate the dedication and pure feeling he poured into his work, especially his beloved gardens at Giverny, which became his singular focus. The garden, he famously said, was his second artistic medium. He once said:

It took me time to understand my waterlilies… I cultivated them without thinking of painting them… And then, all of a sudden, I had a revelation of the enchantment of my pond. I picked up my palette. Since then, I’ve hardly had another model.

The Deeper Learnings from My Museum Experience

Reflecting on my art museum experience on my way back to my school, I realized that being awed by a masterpiece directly relates to experiencing joyful moments in our schools. As leaders, we need to seek out these moments as a reminder of the transformational power of learning. Two similarities strike a chord in me:

  1. Art and education are a path to profound change: Great art can knock us off our well-worn paths into something previously uncharted. A joyful moment of learning or watching a student’s perception change is a form of cognitive and emotional disruption akin to awe. 
  2. The transformative power of seeing: The process of slow, deliberate looking, such as in a museum walk, leads to moments of genuine wonder and awe, confirming art’s function as a catalyst for deeper clarity and emotional connection. In education, slow, deliberate journeys to “see” new ideas and information also lead to the same types of moments of awe and emotional connection. This deepens learning for students.

The author of Raising Awe-Seekers: How the Science of Wonder Helps Our Kids Thrive, Deborah Farmer Kris, will join our school community as the endowed Kudner Leyon Visiting Writer in March 2026. Deborah will be holding workshops in Little, Lower, and Middle Schools for students and parents to rediscover awe and its value for learning and child development. I cannot wait to share my newly developed thoughts on the value of awe in art and its direct correlation to education.