Claude Monet was a French painter who was a key figure in the development of Impressionism. He is best known for his series of paintings of water lilies and haystacks, as well as his many landscapes. Monet was a prolific artist who created more than 2, 500 paintings during his lifetime. He was also a passionate gardener and horticulturist, and his garden at Giverny became an important source of inspiration for his work.