My mum was an art teacher which probably helped. I think I'd seen some of Monet's art in things she'd shown me, or the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay (both if which I seem to recall enjoying for about 10 minutes max).

Seeing in real life the place that one of the paintings was made was interesting to me as I liked Monet in general and it was interesting to me to be in the place that this person had also been in many years ago.