Monet was famous for landscapes, light, and color.
Suddenly, he obsessed over black smoke and a dull station.
No one understood.
The authorities didn’t understand either: Monet asked to change the train schedule to "play" with smoke and light.
The result changed everything.
Monet's Gare Saint-Lazare series, 1877, 12 paintings, reflects his obsession with capturing the modernity of Paris.
Monet's perfectionism drove him to extremes, ignoring those who said smoke and a station made no sense and would be a failure.
This led him to spend countless hours at the station.
And once completed, he defended his work against initial criticism.
The result is history.
What was more important? Having talent? Persevering? Innovating? Defending your ideas to the end?