Claude Monet (kload moh-nay) was born in Le Havre, France. He was a poor student, but he developed great skill in drawing. Monet studied at the Paris Academy, which required any works that were exhibited to follow strict rules. The Academy's shows were the only way artists could advertise and sell their work.

Monet and a group of young artists soon tired of the Academy rules. They left to paint outdoors and later submitted their works to the Academy—which, of course, rejected them. They painted with dabs of color that, when viewed from a distance, blended together to create the illusion of outdoor light.

In 1874 the group of artists held their own exhibit. One of Monet’s paintings in this exhibit was called Impression: Sunrise. The show shocked the public, and an angry critic named the group Impressionists, based on the title of Monet's painting. Still, Monet’s work became popular, and by 1883 he was able to move his family to the country and support them on the income he made from selling his paintings.

Always concerned with the effects of light, Monet realized that light was in a state of constant change. He made many paintings of the same scene to capture these changes.

In 1883, Monet settled in Giverny and designed his own gardens, including the water lily pond that is seen in his work. Monet’s 70-year career was a bridge from true Impressionism to a later, more abstract style. His unique fascination with changing light led to many insights into how the human eye sees the world.