Did you know the word impressionism was basically born out of a sarcastic comment?
Back in 1872, Claude Monet painted a hazy sunrise over a harbor and titled it Impression, Sunrise. A critic scoffed at it, calling it “a painting of nothing but impressions.” Funny thing is—that throwaway insult ended up naming one of the most important movements in art history. And Monet? He became its face.
Water Lilies and a Garden Like No Other
If you know Monet, chances are you know his Water Lilies.
But what you might not know is that he didn’t just paint those dreamy ponds—he created them.
In the small town of Giverny, just outside of Paris, Monet built his own garden from scratch. It wasn’t just for relaxation—it was his open-air studio. He spent decades painting the same pond under different lights, seasons, and moods. Over 250 pieces came from that single setting.
The centerpiece? A quiet pond crossed by a Japanese-style bridge. Inspired by Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e), Monet added an Eastern touch to his Western world, and it shows in the graceful curves and calm stillness of those scenes.
Love, Loss, and Art: Monet and Camille
Monet’s art wasn’t just about nature—it was personal.
His first wife, Camille Doncieux, wasn’t just his partner in life—she was also his muse. She appears in many of his early works, like Woman with a Parasol, and stood by him during his toughest years.
Sadly, Camille died young. Monet painted her on her deathbed—a haunting, quiet tribute. That painting is still considered one of the most intimate and emotional works of his career.
Catching Light Before It’s Gone
Monet wasn’t trying to paint “pretty” pictures.
He wanted to catch something real—but also fleeting. Light as it moved, shadows as they shifted, colors as they changed in an instant.
He’d paint the same subject over and over. In his Rouen Cathedral series, it’s the same building—but each canvas looks completely different, depending on the time of day and the weather.
To do that, he had to get outside. While most artists back then stayed cooped up in studios, Monet was out chasing sunlight. He believed the only way to capture a moment was to be in the middle of it, brush in hand, working fast.
Where to See Monet Today
Monet’s work is everywhere now, and it’s as loved as ever.
You can see his masterpieces at the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris, or visit his actual home and gardens in Giverny.
If you ever find yourself at the Orangerie, take a quiet moment with his giant Water Lilies panels. They wrap around you like a meditative dream. Those were some of the last paintings he ever worked on, and they feel like the grand finale of a life spent chasing light.
So Who Was Monet, Really?
Claude Monet wasn’t trying to make statements or paint legends.
He was just someone who noticed things most of us miss—the way sunlight dances on water, how colors shift with time, how a single flower can feel different in the morning than in the afternoon.
To him, a landscape wasn’t just something to look at—it was something to feel. And if you’ve ever stood in front of one of his paintings, maybe you’ve felt it too.
“What am I feeling right now, in this very moment?”
That’s the question Monet asked with every brushstroke. And he invites us to ask it too.