Houses of Parliament, London

The iconic painting Houses of Parliament, London was executed by Claude Monet (French, 1840-1926) between 1900 and 1901. This oil on canvas is a central component of his celebrated Vues de Londres (Views of London) series, created following extensive stays in the British capital between 1899 and 1901. Although chronologically situated slightly after the core period of Impressionism, this work powerfully embodies the movement’s central concern: the subjective experience of light and color under constantly shifting atmospheric conditions.

Monet meticulously studied the Palace of Westminster from across the Thames, often working from his hotel balcony. He utilized the rich medium of oil on canvas to render the formidable architecture of the Houses of Parliament shrouded in the notorious London fog, a condition often intensified by industrial smog at the turn of the century. Rather than focusing on structural detail, Monet’s technique emphasizes the interplay between sunlight, smoke, and mist, allowing the familiar Gothic Revival silhouette to dissolve into vibrant blues, magentas, and golden oranges. This method of serial painting, where the same subject is revisited to isolate various fleeting atmospheric effects, is a defining characteristic of late Impressionism.

As a renowned painter from France, Monet’s enduring legacy is intrinsically linked to his ability to transform monumental urban structures into pure studies of color and illumination. This masterful painting is currently held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a cornerstone representation of early modern art. Its widespread popularity and historical importance mean that high-quality prints of the work are frequently circulated, often through resources that feature art entering the public domain. Monet’s complex and sensitive rendering of the urban environment remains one of his most recognized achievements.