Claude Monet :: Biography

Claude MonetClaude Monet was one of the founding fathers of French Impressionism.Monets concern was to reflect the baffle of light on a pillowcase. Henever abandoned his impressionist key fruiting style until his death in1926 when Fauvism and Cubism were en vogue and when summary paintingcame into existence.First Painting LessonsClaude Monet was born in Paris, but grew up in Le Havre. His first craftistic output was caricatures when he was a little male child. Close to hishome was a little shop own by a marine painter, Mr. Eugene Boudin.He recognized the talent of the boy and gave him his first paintinglessons. Claudes family was not very happy about his avocation forpainting. In 1860 he was drafted and had to go to Northern Africa fortwo years. After his call in from Africa he went to Paris and tookpainting lessons at Gleyres studio in Paris. At the studio he got toknow Auguste Renoir, Sisley, Bazille and others. The nucleus of thefuture Impressionist grounds was born.Painti ng en plein airSoon Monet turned away from the traditionalistic style of painting inside astudio. With his new friends he went removed in the Fontainebleauforest to paint in the open air. But the human race and art criticsridiculed these new paintings that looked so different from anyconventional art style. In a caricature published in a newspaper, theywere mocked with the project of chasing away the Prussian enemy byshowing them Impressionist paintings - not very nice When theFranco-Prussian war of 1870/71 broke out, Monet chose to go to capital of the United Kingdomwith his friend Pissarro. There he saw the paintings of William Turnerin the museums of London.The habitation in GivernyAfter 1880 the public slowly begun to recognize the value ofimpressionism. Monet Claude and his friends could last get somesolid income from the sales of their paintings. In 1883 Monet rented a crime syndicate in Giverny about 50 kilometers outside of Paris. Later, in 1890,he bought the plate wh ere he should stay until his death in 1926.Claude Monet and Serial PaintingsIn 1890 Monet began to paint systematically the same subjects underdifferent light conditions. The first subject was the haystacks behindhis house. As the light changed during the day faster than he couldpaint, he worked simultaneously on several canvases. At the end he had particoloured 25 different versions of the hay stacks. More of the seriespaintings followed - the Rouen Cathedral, views of Venice or theThames in London with the Houses of Parliament and other landmarks inLondon - often in the fog.