Impressionist Giverny

Book excerpt: Between 1885 and 1915, the village of Giverny (in France) attracted more than 350 artists from at least eighteen countries around the world, transforming from a sleepy community to a vibrant and important artists' colony. The presence of master impressionist painter Claude Monet, who settled in the village in 1883, attracted these young artists, but his presence does not solely explain Giverny's popularity. Artists also sought the opportunity to combine the practice of "plein air" painting with an active social life and enjoyed the locale's picturesque features and easy proximity to Paris. Many artists visited briefly, while others purchased homes and studios, making this Norman village an artistic center.