Blanche Hoschedé-Monet: The Forgotten Impressionist Finally Getting Her Due

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Blanche Hoschedé-Monet, Claude Monet’s stepdaughter and later daughter-in-law, is now being recognized for her own artistic talent. The *Blanche Hoschedé-Monet in the Light* exhibition at The Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art in Indiana features 40 of her paintings, along with sketchbooks, photos, and letters, showcasing her skill and role as Monet’s companion during outdoor painting trips.

Blanche’s work has been overlooked for years, mainly because most of her paintings are in private collections. The Musée Blanche Hoschedé-Monet in France holds the largest number, but Paris’s Musée d'Orsay only has two, neither of which are currently on display. This Indiana exhibition marks her first solo show in the U.S., highlighting growing interest in her art.

Growing up in an art-loving family, Blanche met Monet at age 11. After his wife Camille passed away, Monet became involved with her mother, Alice, and encouraged Blanche to paint. Though she painted similar subjects to Monet, her style was distinct, focusing on solid shapes rather than light and atmosphere.

Blanche’s work gained recognition in the 1890s, and Monet was proud of her progress. However, after marrying Jean Monet in 1897 and having children, she stopped painting to care for him. Today, this exhibition is an important step in securing her rightful place in art history.