The Social Life of Giverny

Giverny became a pilgrimage site for artists, collectors, critics, and admirers from around the world. The village, once a quiet farming community, was transformed by the influx of visitors, particularly American artists who established a colony there. Monet's relationship with these visitors was complex—he valued his privacy and work time but also enjoyed the stimulation of artistic and intellectual exchange.

Regular visitors included fellow Impressionists like Renoir and Caillebotte, who came to paint in the garden. Writers like Octave Mirbeau and Stéphane Mallarmé found inspiration in the synthesis of art and nature. Politicians like Georges Clemenceau became intimate friends, discussing not just art but the great issues of the day.

The American invasion of Giverny began in the 1880s and accelerated through the 1890s. Artists like Theodore Robinson, Willard Metcalf, and Lilla Cabot Perry settled in the village, forming a colony that would last until World War I. While Monet kept some distance from the colony—he discouraged imitation and rarely took students—he formed friendships with several American artists and appreciated their enthusiasm for Impressionism.