Claude Monet
France, 1840-1926

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 many of his works. 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.