The Thames below Westminster

Claude Monet painted this atmospheric view of London's Thames River in 1871, when he briefly took refuge in England during the Franco-Prussian War. Through the characteristic fog and mist that shrouds the city, you can make out the silhouette of Westminster and the Houses of Parliament in the background, while wooden posts jut out of the water in the foreground and small boats drift along the river. This stay in London proved transformative for Monet, as he discovered the work of English painter J.M.W. Turner, whose own misty landscapes would influence the development of Impressionism. The painting captures that quintessentially London atmosphere where everything seems to dissolve into a soft, grey haze. Monet was fascinated by how light and weather could transform a scene, and London's famous fog gave him the perfect subject. He would return to paint the Thames many more times later in his career, but this early work already shows his interest in capturing fleeting moments and atmospheric effects rather than sharp architectural details. The loose brushwork and muted palette create a sense of movement and impermanence, as if the whole scene might shift and change at any moment.