Claude Monet was a French painter active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and was a founding leader of the Impressionist movement. He is famous for his “en plein air” approach, painting outdoors to capture the fleeting effects of light and color in nature. His style is defined by short, broken brushstrokes and a vibrant palette, often depicting the same subject at different times of day. Monet’s work revolutionized modern art by prioritizing sensory perception over realistic detail.