Claude
Oscar Monet was born on November 14, 1840. His first art
was in the form of caricature, but he then switched to
landscapes by his early mentor and teacher Eugene Boudin.
From this teaching, Monet derived his lifelong tendency
to paint out of doors, thus capturing the lights and shadows
that defined his work. In 1859, he moved to Paris to study
at the Atelier Suisse and while there, formed a friendship
with Camille Pissarro, starting a trend for him to befriend
some of the great contemporary painters of his day.
He learned much from these associations and it reflected
in his work. His life also revolved around war as he joined
the military and was stationed in Algiers. Later during
the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 to 1871, he had to take
refuge in England to continue his work. In 1878 he moved
to Vétheuil and in 1883 he settled at Giverny, also on
the Seine, but about 40 miles from Paris. After having
experienced extreme poverty, Monet began to prosper. By
1890 he was successful enough to buy the house at Giverny
he had previously rented and in 1892 he married his mistress,
with whom he had begun an affair in 1876, three years
before the death of his first wife.
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