Claude Monet: Capturing the Ephemeral Light of Impressionism Oscar-Claude Monet, born in Le Havre, Normandy, on November 14, 1840, wasn’t initially destined for a life immersed in paint and canvas. 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 the influence of Eugène Boudin, a local artist who introduced him to the revolutionary concept of “plein air” painting—capturing nature directly on location. This foundational experience would profoundly…