Claude Monet (November 14, 1840, to December 5, 1926) was a leading figure in the Impressionist movement and one of the world's most famous painters. During his time public taste in art was widely controlled by the government. Works of art have only been shown once or twice a year at the palace exhibition halls, where lots of artwork was rejected. At the time the government and the public admired traditional or religious paintings with realistic sobering colours works of art.

From his studio in Argenteuil, Monet broke these barriers and defined the Impressionist movement which is named after one of his paintings. Seeking to fully capture the experience of the moment being depicted, Monet employed flickering brushwork and a delicate pallet, evoking even the temperature of the air in his charming paintings.