Autumn Effect at Argenteuil

Claude Monet painted this view of the river Seine and the town of Argenteuil from his studio boat, moored on a quiet side channel. The real subjects of this work are the flamboyant autumn colours. The orange leaves contrast with the blue water, rendered in thick parallel lines. Monet added texture to the trees by scratching the paint with the handle of his brush.

Monet lived in Argenteuil, a suburb of Paris, from 1871 to 1878. It was an affordable alternative to the capital, easily accessible by the new railroads.