I was thinking of preparing my palette and my brushes to resume work, but relapses and further bouts of pain prevented it. I'm not giving up that hope and am occupying myself with some major alterations in my studios and plans to perfect the garden [in Giverny]. All this to show you that, with courage, I'm getting the upper hand.

In 1926, three months before Monet died. In Monet's letter to Georges Clemenceau, September 1926; as quoted in: K.E. Sullivan. Monet: Discovering Art, Brockhampton press, London (2004), p. 79 - 1920–1926