Paul Paulin was a renowned Parisian dentist who had a passion for sculpting and was encouraged by Edgar Degas to pursue an artistic career. Paulin is best known for his portrait busts of notable Impressionists. There are related versions of this portrait bust of the celebrated painter Claude Monet at three museums in Paris: the Petit Palais (plaster), the Musée d'Orsay (bronze), and the Musée Rodin (bronze).