Claude Monet is regarded as the archetypal impressionist; a light and spontaneous manner of painting which began in the late 1800s. This style of painting attempts to capture the subjective impression of light in a scene. Monet is recognized as being one of the creators of impressionism with such works as his series of paintings featuring Water Lilies. Monetís Water Lilies explores his fascination with water gardens and became his inspiration for hundreds of paintings. Monet spent his last thirty years attempting to capture on canvas the transparence and beauty of water lilies. This painting is currently featured at the Art Institute of Chicago.