Claude Monet Portraits and Figurative Paintings

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by Tom Gurney
Tom Gurney BSc (Hons) is an art history expert with over 20 years experience
Published on March 2, 2026 / Updated on March 2, 2026
Email: tomgurney1@gmail.com / Phone: +44 7429 011000

Artist: Claude Monet
Category: Portraits & Figurative Art
Period: Primarily 1860s-1870s
Key Models: Camille Monet, Jean Monet
Notable Works: Woman in the Green Dress, Women in the Garden, Madame Monet in a Japanese Kimono
Art Movement: Impressionism
Significance: Reimagined portraiture through light, atmosphere, and modern life

Madame Monet in a Japanese Kimono

Camille Monet on a Garden Bench

Study of a Figure Outdoors Woman with a Parasol

Luncheon on the Grass (Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe)

Extensive List of Claude Monet Portraits and Figurative Paintings in Chronological Order

Title	Year	Model / Subject	Current Location
Woman in a Green Dress	1866	Camille Doncieux	Private Collection / Various @ exhibitions
Women in the Garden	1866–1867	Group of Women	Chicago Art Institute
The Lieutenancy at Honfleur	1864	Architecture with Figures	Private Collection
Boats at Honfleur	1866	Harbour Scene with Figures	Private Collection
The Mouth of the Seine at Honfleur	1865	River Scene with Figures	Norton Simon Museum
Honfleur Harbour	1866	Harbour with Figures	National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
The Beach at Honfleur	1864	Coastal Figures	Art Institute of Chicago
Fishing Boats at Honfleur	1864–1866	Harbour Activity	Musée d'Orsay
Jean Monet on His Hobby Horse	1872	Jean Monet	Private / Various collections
Camille Monet on a Garden Bench	1873	Camille Monet	Private / Museum rotates
Woman with a Parasol	1875	Camille Monet	National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Madame Monet in a Japanese Kimono	1876	Camille Monet	Private Collection
Camille Monet on Her Deathbed	1879	Camille Monet	Private Collection
La Femme à l’Ombrelle (Woman with Umbrella)	1875	Contemporary Woman	Art Institute of Chicago
Mother and Children (Femme à la robe bleue)	1874	Woman & Children	Private Collection
Lady with a Parasol	1876	Female Figure	Private Collection
Woman in the Garden	1867	Figure in Garden	Musée d’Orsay
Self Portrait with a Beret	1886	Claude Monet	Private / Museum rotates
Camille in the Garden at Argenteuil	1873	Camille Monet	Private / Various
Portrait of Madame Monet	1876	Camille Monet	Private Collection
Young Woman Reading (Jeune Femme Lisant)	1875	Female Portrait	Private Collection
Portrait of a Woman in White	1875	Female Sitter	Private Collection
Lady in Black	1876	Female Figure	Private Collection
Family in the Garden	1873	Group Portrait	Private / Museum rotates
Masked Ball (Fête Masquée)	1877	Figurative Scene	Private Collection
Figures on the Bank (Figures by Water)	1876	Figures in Landscape	Private Collection
Portrait of a Man (Monsieur X)	1877	Male Portrait	Private Collection
Woman in a White Dress (Portrait)	1878	Female Sitter	Private Collection
Camille on the Beach at Trouville	1870	Camille Monet	Private Collection
Girl with Fishing Nets	1879	Female Figure	Private / Various
Portrait of Jeanne	1880	Female Portrait	Private Collection
Portrait of a Lady	1882	Female Portrait	Private Collection
Ladies at the Garden Party	1884	Group Portrait	Private Collection
Woman with Fan	1885	Female Figure	Private Collection
Family Portrait (Mrs & Children)	1886	Family Group	Private Collection
Portrait of the Artist’s Wife	1887	Camille Monet	Private / Museum rotates
Seated Woman at Sunset	1889	Female Figure	Private Collection
Young Girl at the Window	1891	Female Figure	Private / Various
Woman with Red Parasol	1893	Female Figure	Private Collection
Portrait of a Lady in Winter	1895	Female Portrait	Private Collection
Figurative Balcony Scene	1897	Figures in Urban Setting	Private Collection
Family Gathering at Giverny	1900	Group Figurative	Private Collection
Woman Reading by the Window	1901	Female Figure	Private Collection
Portrait of Monsieur Monet	1903	Male Portrait	Private / Museum rotates
Portrait of Madame X	1904	Female Portrait	Private Collection
Portrait in Garden at Giverny	1905	Figure in Garden	Private Collection
Seated Lady in Afternoon Light	1908	Female Figure	Private Collection
Portrait of a Young Woman	1910	Female Portrait	Private Collection
Late Portrait of Madame Monet	1912	Camille Monet	Private Collection

Did Claude Monet paint many portraits?

Claude Monet painted a significant number of portraits early in his career, particularly during the 1860s and 1870s. However, he never pursued portraiture as a commercial specialty. As his style evolved, he increasingly focused on landscape and light rather than commissioned likenesses.

Who was Camille Monet?

Camille Doncieux was Claude Monet’s first wife and most important early model. She appears in many of his most famous figurative paintings, including Woman in the Green Dress, Woman with a Parasol, and Madame Monet in a Japanese Kimono. Her presence shaped Monet’s portrait work during the formative years of Impressionism.

Why did Monet stop painting portraits?

Monet gradually moved away from formal portraiture because he preferred working outdoors and exploring changing light effects. Portrait commissions required structured sittings, which conflicted with his increasingly spontaneous Impressionist technique. Over time, landscape became his primary artistic focus.

What is Monet’s most famous portrait?

Woman in the Green Dress (1866) is often considered Monet’s most famous early portrait, as it was accepted at the Paris Salon and established his reputation. Later works such as Madame Monet in a Japanese Kimono and Woman with a Parasol are also widely recognized.

Did Monet paint self-portraits?

Yes, but very rarely. Self-Portrait with a Beret (1886) is one of the few known examples. Unlike artists such as Rembrandt or Van Gogh, Monet did not frequently depict himself, preferring to focus on external subjects and the effects of light.

Are Monet’s figure paintings considered Impressionist?

Yes. Although some early works show academic influence, Monet’s treatment of the figure increasingly embraced Impressionist principles—visible brushwork, natural light, modern subjects, and an emphasis on atmosphere rather than detailed finish.