Claude Monet

Oscar-Claude Monet, a French painter, was a pivotal figure in the development of Impressionism and is widely regarded as a key precursor to Modernism. His dedication to capturing nature as he perceived it distinguished his work and defined his long and influential career. Monet’s commitment to the philosophy of Impressionism is especially evident in his extensive body of plein air (outdoor) landscape paintings.

The term Impressionism itself originates from the title of Monet’s painting Impression, soleil levant (Impression, Sunrise), which was exhibited in 1874 during the now-famous “Exhibition of the Rejects.” Organized by Monet and his peers as an alternative to the traditional Salon, the exhibition challenged the artistic conventions of the time. Monet’s innovative techniques and relentless pursuit of natural light and atmosphere have left a lasting legacy in the history of art.