Claude Monet was a highly influential French painter and founder of Impressionism in the 19th century. Through a series of loose brushstrokes capturing light and color rather than realistic details, Monet presented a new visual style that challenged traditional academic painting. He was inspired by landscape artist Eugene Boudin to paint outdoors and focus on the changing effects of light. Monet helped organize the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874, which led critics to dub the style "Impressionism" despite its derogatory intent. Monet went on to achieve great financial success late in his career, allowing him to focus on his iconic water lilies series until his death.