Claude Monet
On this day in 1840, Claude Monet, a French painter, founder of Impressionism, and a key precursor to Modernism, was born. Guess whose painting you will see today! :)
It is late summer. The leaves and blossoms seem almost to shimmer, dab upon dab of color: nowhere a fixed form—everything is color. Brightly glowing nasturtiums, asters, dahlias, and even the sandy path leading to a house shine in the light. Shadows dissolve into dark tones.
In the spring of 1883, Monet moved into a house in Giverny, northwest of Paris. He immediately began designing the garden; the water lily pond was added later. Back in 1872, the still-unknown painter had given Impressionism its name with his painting Impression, Sunrise. The famous water lily paintings and this avenue mark both the high point and conclusion of that style.
P.S. Celebrate Monet’s legacy! Shop our Impressionist-inspired products today and learn more in our French Impressionism online courses. Bring the luminous beauty of Giverny into your home and your knowledge—before inspiration slips away!
P.P.S. How well do you know Claude Monet and his art? Put you knowledge to the test in this Claude Monet QUIZ and check if you can distinguish the artist from a fellow famous French master in our Monet vs Manet QUIZ!