Before Monet painted water lilies, he almost died in the deserts of Algeria. Drafted into a brutal colonial war at just twenty, the young dreamer from Le Havre found himself in a uniform instead of an artist’s smock — until a twist of fate, a stubborn aunt, and a defiant decision brought him back to Paris.

This episode dives into Monet’s unlikely escape from the army, the moment Oscar became Claude, and how one fateful friendship changed his path forever. Meet Bazille — the loyal friend, secret patron, and fellow rebel who helped Monet break free from old masters and find new ones in the forests outside Paris.

What does it take to defy your father, abandon your teacher, and invent modern art with nothing but an empty wallet and fierce belief in light and nature?

"Monet - Century of Change" is a production by Studio Jot for the Museum Barberini Potsdam.