Monet is one of the greatest Impressionists as well as being the most popular, yet books about him have concentrated either on aesthetic or on social aspects of his work without attempting a synthesis. Here Virginia Spate provides a full interpretation of Monet's paintings, examining the various ways in which they can be read; the tension between image and reality that energizes them; and the mysterious interactions between the work, its exhibition, promotion, and sale, and its reception both in public and in private. Based on a study of the artist's complete oeuvre, his surviving letters, and contemporary documentary material, this is the fullest account available of a complex and influential man whose style changed and evolved considerably during his long career. Monet's often neglected figure paintings, always of family or friends, are analyzed alongside his landscapes, which ranged from river scenes to steam-filled railway stations. Changes in his output in response to shifts in demand are linked to the new system of art dealers and to his financial situation. The France of Monet's youth and maturity is covered in depth, especially the traumatic legacy of the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune; and his famous garden at Giverny is shown to be both a personal utopia and a vital part of his creative processes. This definitive treatment of a hugely important artist makes an indispensable contribution to the art history of Impressionism and the roots of modernism. 135 color and 165 b/w illustrations. Originally published in hardcover under the title: Claude Monet: Life and Work.