Claude Monet was a French painter and one of the founders of impressionism, a movement that aimed to capture the fleeting impressions of nature and light. He was born in Paris in 1840, but moved to Le Havre with his family when he was five years old. There, he developed his interest in drawing and painting, especially landscapes and seascapes. He studied at the Académie Suisse in Paris, where he met other young artists like Auguste Renoir and Alfred Sisley. He also learned from the plein air painter Eugène Boudin, who taught him to observe the effects of the atmosphere on the colors and shapes of the scenery.
Monet’s style was influenced by the Japanese prints that he collected, as well as by the photography that emerged in the 19th century. He experimented with different techniques and materials, such as using thin layers of paint, applying bright colors directly on the canvas, and working with large brushes and palette knives. He also painted the same subject from different angles and at different times of the day and year, creating series of paintings that showed the variations of light and weather. Some of his most famous series are the Haystacks, the Rouen Cathedral, the London Parliament, and the Water Lilies.
Monet faced many difficulties in his life, such as financial problems, family tragedies, and health issues. He was often rejected by the official art institutions and critics, who considered his paintings unfinished and sloppy. He also suffered from cataracts, which affected his vision and his perception of colors. However, he never gave up his passion for painting and continued to work until his death in 1926. He left behind a legacy of thousands of paintings that are admired and loved by millions of people around the world.