The Pond, Snow Effect

After his return from London, where he had sought refuge during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, Monet did not return to the Paris of his student days. Instead, like many of his artist friends, he moved to one of the smaller towns along the Seine that were easily accessible from Paris. Here, figures stroll across an open, snow-covered field in the midday sun, not far from the artist’s home in Argenteuil. Monet captured the carefree moment and radiant light, juxtaposing complementary colors such as orange and blue, yellow and violet.