Poppy Field in a Hollow near Giverny (1885) Art Print | Claude Monet

Claude Monet was the founding father of Impressionism, a revolutionary art movement that redefined how we see the world through paint. Born in Paris and raised in Le Havre, Monet rejected academic traditions to pursue a new way of seeing — one that captured the fleeting effects of light, color, and atmosphere.

His loose, expressive brushstrokes and devotion to painting en plein air (outdoors) brought ordinary landscapes to life with extraordinary vibrancy. Whether it was the shimmer of sunlight on water lilies, the misty haze over the Thames, or the golden glow of haystacks at dawn, Monet painted the poetry of perception — the sensations of a moment rather than its exact details.

Monet’s most iconic works were created at his garden in Giverny, where he cultivated a living canvas of Japanese bridges, ponds, and flowers that became the soul of his art. His Water Lilies series would later inspire modernists and abstract artists alike, proving that emotional truth could be found in nature’s subtleties.

Monet didn’t just paint scenery — he painted how it feels to see, forever changing the language of art and leaving behind a legacy that continues to shimmer with beauty, movement, and life.