Theodore Earl Butler (1861-1936) was an American Impressionist painter closely associated with the French Impressionist movement. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Butler studied at Marietta College and the Art Students League in New York before moving to Paris, where he trained at the Académie Julian under the tutelage of prominent artists such as William-Adolphe Bouguereau and Gustave Boulanger. His time in Paris led him to Giverny, the artistic colony that was home to Claude Monet, where he became deeply influenced by Monet's work and the Impressionist style. Butler's vibrant use of color and light in his landscapes, still lifes, and domestic scenes reflected the Impressionist focus on capturing the ephemeral qualities of nature.

Butler's personal life intertwined with his artistic journey when he married Suzanne Hoschedé, the stepdaughter of Claude Monet, which further solidified his connection to the French Impressionist circle. After Suzanne's death, Butler married her sister, Marthe Hoschedé, further deepening his ties to Monet’s family. He spent much of his life in France, particularly in Giverny, where he continued to develop his artistic style, blending American and French Impressionist techniques. Despite being less well-known than some of his contemporaries, Butler's work is celebrated for its lyrical beauty and its role in bridging American and European Impressionism.