From an early age in Le Havre he drew caricatures and was encouraged by Eugène Boudin to paint landscapes en plein air. He moved to Paris to study at the Académie Suisse and later with Charles Gleyre, through whom he met Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley and Frédéric Bazille. Together they were amongst the founders of the Impressionist movement. Although he did not abandon the figure, he always preferred to paint landscapes, especially around the homes he had outside Paris along the banks of the Seine, notably at Giverny from 1883. Especially from the 1890s onwards, he created series to examine changes in light and colour in different atmospheric conditions and at various times of the day. By abandoning the conventions of academic art, he opened the door to further abstraction by future artists. His public appeal is unrivalled, upholding his legacy as a key figure in modern painting.