Claude Monet | Publishment AI

Oscar-Claude Monet (1840–1926) was a pivotal French painter and the undisputed founder of Impressionism, a movement that fundamentally altered the course of Western art. His relentless dedication to capturing the fleeting effects of light and color, particularly in outdoor landscape painting, made him a central figure in the transition toward modern art. The very term 'Impressionism' originates from his 1872 painting, *Impression, Sunrise*, which debuted at the groundbreaking 1874 exhibition that challenged the rigid conventions of the Parisian Salon. Monet's oeuvre, spanning over 60 years, comprises thousands of works, many of which explore series of the same subject under varying atmospheric conditions, such as his iconic haystacks and Rouen Cathedral. His innovative approach to perception and his profound influence on subsequent artistic generations solidify his status as a titan of art history.