Claude Monet: Five Things You Might Not Know About the Father of Impressionism

Claude Monet (1840-1926) is universally recognized as the father of Impressionism, a movement that revolutionized painting in the late 19th century. His long career was marked by an unceasing quest for light and color, resulting in masterpieces that redefined the codes of representation. This article looks at some lesser-known aspects of his life and work.

Born in Paris but raised in Le Havre, Monet began his career painting caricatures before turning to plein air painting. During his time in Argenteuil in the 1870s, he gathered artists such as Renoir, Sisley, and Pissarro, laying the foundations for what would become Impressionism. The painting "Impression, Sunrise" (1872), exhibited in 1874, gave the movement its name, although contemporary critics were mocking.

Monet was also a passionate gardener. In 1883, he settled in Giverny, where he created a water garden inspired by Japanese prints, complete with his famous Japanese bridge and water lilies. In his later years, he painted dozens of variations on the water lilies, exploring the effects of light at different times of day and seasons. These works, some up to several meters in size, are considered precursors to abstraction.

Among lesser-known anecdotes, Monet nearly lost his sight. From 1912, he suffered from cataracts, which altered his color perception. He nevertheless continued painting, with canvases becoming increasingly red and ochre, and underwent surgery in 1923 that restored some clarity. He then retouched some of his paintings, seeking to regain lost harmony.

The Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris holds the world's largest collection of his works, thanks to a donation from his son Michel. The water lilies are also displayed at the Orangerie, in a cycle of eight panels designed by the artist himself.

Monet's work continues to inspire contemporary artists, as shown by the "Monet & Moi" exhibition at the Atelier des Lumières in Paris, offering an immersive digital experience of his paintings. A modern way to rediscover this master of light.

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Written by the ADM desk based on Beaux Arts Magazine. Read the original article for the full story.