The Courtauld is showing Monet’s never before realised exhibition of his paintings of London in their city of origin. Monet painted these works mere meters away at the Savoy hotel, and he focused on the unique atmospheric effects that the industrial smog played on the river Thames. These works were made following his stay in the city during the winters of 1899 to 1901, the height at which London would be clouded. Getting closer to the dreaded Winter months, Monet’s paintings are a spark of hope that it won’t all be so bleak.
Simplistic in subject, featuring only views from Waterloo, Charing Cross, and the Houses of Parliament, the collection is a masterpiece of subtle shapes and colour gradients.
As a student of chiaroscuro (strong contrasts), I am often less captivated by paintings that rely on a limited tonal pallet, but I found these works stunning. I had to engage deeply with some of the paintings to be able to pick apart the shapes (like the smoke stacks in the image above) and brushstrokes that make me aware of the city landscape. The paintings have a magic of revealing new details and forms the longer one meditates.
Although a limited pallet, many of the pieces, like the one above, feature complimentary colours to depict the bold sun behind blueish fog. These images were the most stunning of the collection as they married atmospheric nuance with vivid contrasting light. In the image above, the sun makes an otherwise depressing landscape otherworldly in its vibrance.
My favourite painting is the one featured below. At first, I was attracted by the colour and its simplicity. Parliament is both distinctly recognisable and indistinguishable from the water below and the sky above. While taking this painting in, I realised that I was experiencing familiar landscapes that I traverse regularly, yet until that moment I had observed the images as if they depicted foreign places.
I recommend this exhibit to Londoners, especially, as it provides an unfamiliar yet beautiful view of the city. Next time I’m overlooking Charing Cross bridge, Waterloo, or the Houses of Parliament this winter, I’ll try to see the same uniqueness and feel inspiration amongst the fog.
The exhibit will run until 19 January.
If you’d like a wee tour, I made a video of visiting Monet and London o’er on instagram.
Image credits: The Courtauld and Museum of Fine Arts, St Petersburg, Florida