the work of claude monet is instantly recognizable and popular. this is an instruction given to curators when they really want to put in the [unintelligible] this show will certainly do that. it has not even opened yet. but for the french, there is another reason all together. they want to regain position as the expert for money adn impressionism, at described as an unmistakable emblem of the international influence of french culture. >> one could argue in the past 30 years, first new york and london have threatened paris' dominance. senior people and culture are very concerned to assert france's position. his paintings had adored [unintelligible] he was a radical revolutionary who changed art forever. >> this started it all. the point at which art stopped being old and started being new can be dated to this moment here when somebody comes along who decides it is not just there to describe something, they are there to express things and change things. the thing that was never underestimate it was now brave he was. >> the curators want to remind th

among them were the impressionists, claude monet and edward monet were just some of his customers. >> translator: japanese art was so popular in paris at the time. the country was turning into an industrial nation, and the emerging bourgeois class were buying his works. haishi was lucky to be there at the right time. >> degas was one of haishi's earliest customers and vice versa. one day, haishi gave him a gift, a print depicting the daily lives in of japanese in the edo period. the price of the work was double the annual salary of the average french worker. degas learned of the value. >> translator: oh, dear, i must get him a second drawing. >> reporter: the main theme for degas were like these pictures. he had it by his bedside for 25 years. it inspired him to draw similar subjects of bathing women. the perspective of this painting by degas, the top creating something of a public scandal. he said he wanted to draw naked women without them knowing they are being observed. >> translator: the theme subjects are definitely influen influenced. the influence can also be seen in the compos

. >>> if art is more your thing, a special exhibition of the work of claude monet is on display in parisf some 200 pieces is regarded as the most important exhibition of the french painter's work in 30 years. >>> and believe it or not, this is not the world's largest pumpkin. some farmers in west virginia are showing off their agricultural marvels. three pumpkins, each between 500 and 1,000 pounds. but the current world record holder, get this, more than 1700 pounds. and that brings us down to the wire. and that is our show for this wednesday. i'm chris jansing. t"the dylan ratigan show" is up next. dia hea and constipation. ...and? it helped balance her colon. oh, now that's the best part. i love your work. [ female announcer ] phillips' colon health. but the financial landscape is still full of uncertainty. in times like these, you need an experienced partner to look out for you. heads up! and after 300 years we have gotten pretty good at that. it was a real shock. i remember being at the hospital thinking, "i should have done more to take care of myself." you should've. that's why i'm