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Claude Monet was a founder of Impressionism—his “Impression, Sunrise” painting literally gave the movement its name—and his focus on capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere influenced generations of artists. He was a pioneer of painting en plein air (outdoors), which further contributed to his distinctive style. He developed the technique of painting the same scene multiple times to capture the changing light and effects of the passing seasons. His garden and lily pond at Giverny provided endless inspiration for his paintings to the end of his long life, and his iconic series of water lily paintings are a testament to his enduring influence.
William H. Fredlund, the Director of the Institute, obtained his B.A. and M.A. from UCLA, where he specialized in European history and art history. He studied in Italy on a Fulbright Fellowship and completed a double Ph.D. in history and humanities at Stanford, specializing in Renaissance Italy. Dr. Fredlund has taught for UCLA, the University of Florence, Stanford, and UCSC Extension.
