The Artists House at Argenteuil

With the beginning of the 1870s, the artistic focus of Claude Monet had moved beyond the salons of Paris and into the open air. This was also the only place to truly pursue the artists fascination with the effects of light on the subject matter.


In the summer of 1873, Monet spend the summer with his family in Argenteuil, a small town just a short train ride outside of Paris. There, while cultivating and growing the garden and enjoying his new surroundings, Monet also painted his surroundings. The Artists House at Argenteuil is part of the work done by Monet this summer.

The painting depicts the Monet family during this time. Monet’s wife Camille can be seen standing in the drroway while his son Jean is playing outside with a hoop. Painted with the characteristic short brush strokes of Monet, the paintings overall emotional message is one of harmony and peace. The colors and varied but warm, with even the shades possessing warm earthen hues. It is as if Monet wished to preserve every aspect of this time, executing the time to perfection in this painting.

Today, the Artists House at Argenteuil is on display at the Art Institute of Chicago and is a popular Claude Monet painting.