While there's no evidence he spoke German fluently, it's possible he had some understanding of the language. Here's why:
* Travel: Monet traveled extensively, including to Germany, where he painted. It's likely he picked up some basic German during these trips.
* Art World: The art world in the 19th century was international, and artists often interacted with colleagues from different countries.
* Education: French people during this period often learned Latin and Greek in school, which could have given them a foundation for understanding other Romance languages like German.
However, there's no strong evidence to suggest Monet was fluent in German. He primarily communicated in French throughout his life.