Claude Monet (1840–1926)
Founder of French Impressionism, Monet championed plein-air painting and the study of light, atmosphere, and color shifts.
His Impression, Sunrise (1872) coined the movement’s name and reshaped future art.
Later, he immersed himself in his Giverny garden, famously painting water lilies and Japanese bridge scenes.
His floral, water, and cathedral series reflect subtle variations in time and light.
Notable paintings:

