Claude Monet was born November 14, 1840 in Paris.  He is thought to be the "founder and theorist of Impressionism."  He spent most of his time in a village painting seascapes, middle class people of the century, and outdoor scenes.  For each painting, he liked to use bright colors and capture light.  Monet was associated with Pissarro, Manet, and other artists, and together they formed their own show where their art could be viewed.  The press referred to them as Impressionists, named for one of Monet's pieces: Impression--Sunrise.  When he became financially stable, he bought property in a French village called Giverny, and there he created a water garden containing a Japanese Bridge and lilies.  He painted many scenes of that Garden, which is now open to the public.  Nearing the end of his life, Monet began to lose his sight, yet he kept on painting until close to the time he died.  He had cataract surgery in 1922 and began to correct the color or his paintings; his friends convinced him to leave the paintings as they were.  He died on December 5, 1926, at Giverny.

Impression--Sunrise, 1872	Wild Poppies, 1873

Fishing Boats Leaving the Harbor, 1874	Woman With Parasol, 1886