Claude Monet: A Life in Pursuit of Light's Nuances

Claude Monet, who was born in Paris in 1840 and grew up in Le Havre, achieved early fame at the age of 15 through his caricatures. Around 1858, he began painting en plein air under the mentorship of Eugène Boudin and showcased his work in Le Havre. In 1862, he became a student at Charles Gleyre's studio in Paris, where he met fellow artists Renoir, Sisley, and Bazille. His initial accomplishments included two marine paintings in 1865 and 'La Femme à la robe verte' (1866), although 'Femmes au jardin' faced rejection in 1867. Following the birth of his son Jean and the Franco-Prussian War, he sought refuge in London, returning to Argenteuil in 1871. The inaugural Impressionist exhibition in 1874 attracted significant media coverage. In 1883, Monet settled in Giverny, established a water garden, and in 1922, he presented 'Grandes décorations de nymphéas' to France.