Tomb of Claude Monet, Giverny cemetery

What it is

This is a photograph by Remi Jouan, taken in 2010, of the grave of Claude Monet at the cemetery in Giverny. The white marble plaque is inscribed 'Ici repose notre bien aimé Claude Monet, né le 14 novembre 1840, décédé le 5 décembre 1926, regretté de tous', and white and pink flowers lie on the tomb.

Why it matters

A grave marker is a memorial, so it shows how Monet was remembered after his death in 1926. The inscription, which calls him 'our beloved', reflects the feelings of the people who placed it. The photograph is a modern record of the monument, not a document from Monet's own lifetime.

Look closer

• What words does the inscription use to remember Monet, and what do they emphasise?
• Why might visitors leave flowers at a grave, and what does this photograph show about that?
• What does the photograph not tell us about Monet's life or work?