Different styles of paintings continuously emerge from century to century. Several artists begin to use unique methods in their paintings, which bring about new, distinct styles. One of the styles that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was Impressionism. Among the many talented Impressionist artists was Claude Monet. Claude Monet was the most representative of the Impressionists. .
Claude Monet was born on November 14th, 1840. He lived with his mother, Louise Monet, his father, Adolphe Monet, his older brother and his aunt, Madame Lecadre. Monet was born in France, however, when he was 5 years old, his family moved to Le Havre. Monet was not the ideal student; he preferred drawing. At age 20, he enrolled in the military. He spent a few years in the military, traveling to Algeria. Leaving the military, he moved from place to place, including Vetheuil, London, Argeneuil, Poissy and Giverny. He met a woman, Camille Doncieux, who he married. Together they had two children; a girl, Jean and a boy, Michel. But in 1879 Camille died. Alice, a close friend of Monet's, helped take care of his two children. In 1891, Alice's husband died and a year later Claude married her. They lived happily until death.
Monet enjoyed art greatly. He did not take schooling very seriously and so began to draw caricature in the margins of his books. He preferred drawing rather than studying. It was at Le Havre, in Claude Monet's youth, where he met Eugene Boudin. Although Monet did not greatly admire Boudin's work, it was Boudin who encouraged Monet to expand beyond caricature and paint in nature. Therefore, Claude began exploring nature and it's colors and forms. By 1959 Monet was studying in Paris at the Swiss Academy where he formed a close friendship with Camille Pissarro. After his enrollment in the military, he returned to Paris in 1862 and began his study in Gleyre's studio. It was at Gleyre's studio where Monet met Impressionist artists Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, Frederic Bazille, Eduard Manet, Camille Pissaro, and Edgar Degas.
