The article highlights how artists like Monet found inspiration in London’s foggy and polluted climate during the late 19th century. The Courtauld Gallery features an exhibition showcasing Monet’s paintings of the Thames, revealing how he transformed the city’s smog into captivating art.
In the late 19th century, artists like Claude Monet and J.M.W. Turner found inspiration in London’s notoriously overcast and polluted atmosphere. Monet’s visits from 1899 to 1901 led him to produce numerous paintings of the River Thames, showcasing its dynamic beauty amidst fog and industrial activity. Presently, the Courtauld Gallery presents Monet’s works in the exhibition “Monet and London: Views of the Thames,” running until January 19, 2025. The exhibition brings together 21 canvases that capture the Thames in an array of colours, revealing the glowing effects of fog and light that fascinated the artist. Monet described the weather as “magnificent but all too changeable” and cherished the fog for its unique yellow hue, characteristic of industrial London at the time, which locals referred to as “the Big Smoke.”
The article discusses how 19th-century artists, particularly Claude Monet, used London’s fog-laden and polluted environment as a source of artistic inspiration. Notably, Monet’s fascination with the city’s atmospheric conditions led him to create a series of paintings during colder months, ultimately contributing to his reputation and the appreciation of London’s unique beauty, despite its industrial challenges.
Monet’s exploration of London’s fog through his artwork reveals a complex relationship between beauty and environmental pollution. The current exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery celebrates this legacy by showcasing Monet’s vivid interpretations of the Thames, inviting modern audiences to reconsider the aesthetic value of the city’s historical atmospherics.
Original Source: www.nytimes.com