Claude Monet, a pivotal figure in the Impressionist movement, was born in Paris in 1840 and grew up in Le Havre. His early career was marked by struggle, including rejection by the traditional art establishment, but he persevered in developing his unique style focused on the play of light and color. Monet's approach often involved painting the same scene multiple times to capture different lighting conditions. His works, like the famous "Water Lilies" series and "Impression, Sunrise" (which gave Impressionism its name), profoundly influenced the art world. Monet's later years were spent in Giverny, where he created some of his most renowned pieces, despite battling cataracts. He passed away in 1926, leaving a legacy as one of the most celebrated and influential painters in the history of art.Google ML, Eleven Labs