The foremost Impressionist is widely considered to be Claude Monet. He was a French painter who epitomized the Impressionist aesthetic through his innovative techniques and consistent focus on capturing the effects of light and color in nature, especially in outdoor (plein air) landscapes. Monet’s painting Impression, Sunrise (1872) notably gave the movement its name, and his prolific body of work, including the famous Water Lilies series, firmly established him as the leading figure of Impressionism
. While other key Impressionists include Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Edgar Degas, and Berthe Morisot, Monet is most often recognized as the central and defining artist of the movement due to his pioneering style and influence
. Camille Pissarro is sometimes called the "father of Impressionism" for his foundational role and influence on peers, but Monet remains the foremost Impressionist in popular and scholarly consensus
. In summary, Claude Monet is considered the foremost Impressionist painter.
