Which painter introduced Claude Monet to plein-air landscape painting in Normandy?

Eugène Boudin introduced Claude Monet to plein-air landscape painting in Normandy.

Boudin met Monet in Le Havre, where Monet was making caricatures. Boudin encouraged the younger artist to leave the studio and paint directly from nature. Monet later recalled that Boudin’s example helped him understand the value of observing sky, sea, weather, and light firsthand.

This encounter was a major turning point in Monet’s development. Outdoor painting allowed him to respond quickly to changing conditions, an approach that became central to Impressionism. Boudin was already respected for his small beach and harbor scenes, often populated by fashionable visitors.

Monet eventually acknowledged Boudin’s influence despite initially resisting his advice. Their relationship is frequently mentioned in biographies because it connects Monet’s youthful interest in caricature with his mature career as a landscape painter.