Claude Monet, born on November 14, 1840, in Paris, France, was a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism. Monet's work is characterized by its vibrant use of color, fluid brush strokes, and the depiction of light and atmosphere in a way that was revolutionary for his time.
Monet's early life was marked by his family's move to Le Havre when he was five, where his father ran a grocery business. Here, Monet developed a passion for drawing caricatures, which he sold for income. His talent was recognized by Eugène Boudin, a local landscape artist, who encouraged Monet to paint outdoors, introducing him to the practice of en plein air painting.
In 1859, Monet moved to Paris to study at the Academy Suisse where he met other artists who would later form the core of the Impressionist movement, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, and Camille Pissarro. They were inspired by the changing light and color in the landscapes, leading to the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874, where Monet's painting "Impression, Sunrise" gave the movement its name.
Monet married Camille Doncieux in 1870, and they had two sons, Jean Monet and Michel Monet. After Camille's death in 1879, Monet later lived with Alice Hoschedé, whom he eventually married. His personal life was often tumultuous, with financial struggles and the emotional impact of losing loved ones.
In his later years, Monet focused on his gardens in Giverny, creating the famous Water Lilies series, which occupied him until his death on December 5, 1926. His legacy includes not only his contribution to art but also his influence on the development of modern painting. The Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris holds the largest collection of his works.