Women Friends and Supporters

While the art world of the nineteenth century was predominantly male, Monet maintained important friendships with women who played crucial roles in his life and career. Berthe Morisot, his colleague in the Impressionist exhibitions, was both a respected peer and a friend. Their correspondence reveals mutual artistic respect and personal affection.

American painters like Mary Cassatt and Lilla Cabot Perry, who settled in Giverny, brought international recognition to Monet's work. Perry wrote perceptively about Monet's methods and personality, providing valuable firsthand accounts of the artist at work. These women were not mere admirers but fellow professionals whose own work engaged in dialogue with his.

Monet also maintained friendships with collectors and patrons like Louisine Havemeyer, whose support was crucial in establishing his reputation in America. These relationships were based on genuine affection as well as business, with Monet taking interest in their lives and families beyond their purchases of his work.