Claude Monet: Capturing the Ephemeral Light Oscar-Claude Monet, born in Le Havre, Normandy, on November 14, 1840, wasn’t initially destined for a life immersed in paint and light. His father, a grocery store owner, envisioned a more practical career for his son – one involving commerce. However, from a young age, Claude displayed an undeniable passion for art, nurtured by his mother's musical talents and the influence of Eugène Boudin, a local artist who introduced him to the revolutionary practice of *plein air* painting—working directly from nature. This foundational experience would prof…