Claude Monet (1840–1926) was a pioneering French painter and the founder of Impressionism, a movement named after his iconic work Impression, Sunrise. Born in Paris and raised in Normandy, Monet was captivated by nature and light from an early age. He rejected traditional art education, instead embracing plein air painting—capturing scenes outdoors in natural light. His innovative brushwork and focus on fleeting moments revolutionized modern art. Monet’s series paintings, like Water Lilies, Haystacks, and Rouen Cathedral, explored light and atmosphere across seasons and times of day. He spent his later years in Giverny, cultivating a garden that became his muse. Monet’s legacy endures as a master of capturing the ephemeral beauty of the world .