The Thames below Westminster

Painted around 1871, this view of London shows the River Thames with the Houses of Parliament and the Big Ben clock tower rising through a soft, misty haze. Claude Monet made this work during his stay in England, where he had fled to escape the Franco-Prussian War. Like many visitors before and after him, he became fascinated by London's famous fog, which softened every shape and turned the whole city into a study of grey and silvery light.

This is an early work by Monet, created just before the Impressionist movement officially got its name. You can already see the loose brushwork and the focus on light and atmosphere that would make him famous. Notice how he keeps the foreground simple, with a wooden pier and a few small figures, while steamboats puff along the water and the buildings fade into the distance. London clearly left a lasting impression on him, because he returned years later to paint the Thames and Parliament again and again, chasing the changing weather and light each time.