Monet in Winter
Claude Monet, Snow Scene at Argenteuil, 1875, National Gallery London, WikiArt
Happy 2024! Now that we are slowly leaving the holiday spirits behind and perhaps getting the post celebration blues, Claude Monet is here to help you find light in the rather dark and rainy month that awaits us. We gathered some beautiful Monet paintings that are cheerful reminders of what winter in France looked like in the 19th century. Are you ready to go back in time and to visit some small French towns? If yes, you are in the right place. Grab your favourite warm drink and let’s get started.
The Essence of Monet
The Impressionist painter of the renowned Water Lilies series (1897-99) is known for his pastoral landscape paintings and his soft brushstrokes that create wonders. Looking at the works of Monet, there is probably one shared feeling that we all experience: content relaxation. The painter manages to take us back to nineteenth and early twentieth century France.What's special about Monet’s works is his application of light and the way he captures the essence of change in his brushstrokes.
Snow Scene at Argenteuil, 1875
Argenteuil is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris. Monet was living there while painting this work. Looking at this painting (see above), I think it depicts an early morning, the brightness of the snowy weather reflected in the sky. People are leaving their houses to have some fresh air and maybe some hot chocolate. Monet perfectly evokes the trees covered with snow and the delicate detail of footprints. A fun fact: This is not the only painting that Monet painted of Argenteuil. He captured different streets of the commune from various perspectives to create the perfect essence of winter.
Lavacourt under Snow, 1878-1881
Claude Monet, Lavacourt under Snow, 1881, Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, Wikimedia Commons
Lavacourt is another village near Paris. Seeing these two places that are rather close to the city, Monet managed to portray them in their own way. There is so much more to France than Paris! Imagine standing right in front of the door of one of the houses,seeing the soft transitions of pastel colors.
Stacks of Wheat (Sunset, Snow Effect), 1890-1891
Claude Monet, Stacks of Wheat (Sunset, Snow Effect), 1890-1891, Art Institute of Chicago, WikiArt
This painting is a bit different. It provides a glimpse of what kind of magic snow can create when it's combined with a beautiful sunset. Earlier we perhaps saw early mornings, now we are looking at a sunset. The soft rays of the sun are creating an illumination, giving the wheat a blue and snowy topping. Monet was highly interested in using the same landscape multiple times and observing how it changed with the seasons.
