Artwork
L'Entrée de la Grande Rue à Argenteuil, l'hiver
L'Entrée de la Grande Rue à Argenteuil, l'hiver is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Claude Monet. It dates from 1875 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon.
About this work
Overview
Claude Monet’s 1875 oil painting captures a winter view of Argenteuil’s main thoroughfare. The canvas presents a snow‑laden street where a handful of pedestrians traverse the foreground, while distant trees and structures recede into a muted atmosphere. Dominated by cool blues and greys, the work conveys the quiet stillness of a cold day in the French suburb.
Subject & Meaning
The scene focuses on everyday life under a blanket of snow, emphasizing the interaction between human figures and the winter landscape. By placing the walkers against an expansive, muted backdrop, Monet highlights the modest scale of human activity within the broader, indifferent environment, suggesting both the serenity and the subtle dynamism of a seasonal cityscape.
Technique & Style
Monet employs delicate, feathery brushstrokes to render the snow‑covered ground and foliage, creating a soft, atmospheric texture. In contrast, the architectural elements are built with tighter, more angular strokes, lending them a sense of solidity. The limited palette of blues, greys, and occasional warm tones reinforces the cold ambience while allowing light to ripple across the surface.
History & Provenance
Created in 1875, the painting entered the collection of the Musée des Beaux‑Arts de Lyon, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to representing the evolution of French Impressionism and provides a reference point for Monet’s exploration of light, weather, and urban scenes during the mid‑1870s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Oscar-Claude Monet was born in Paris on November 14, 1840, and raised from the age of five in Le Havre, where he began selling charcoal caricatures as a teenager.
The Road to Versailles, Louveciennes, Snow
Route to Versailles, Louveciennes
Snow in Argenteuil
Piette's House at Montfoucault
Rue Eugène Moussoir at Moret: Winter
Snow Effect in Louveciennes
The Road to Saint Germain, near Marly
Boulevard Saint-Denis, Argenteuil, in Winter
Entrance to the Village of Vétheuil in Winter
Snow at Argenteuil
La Maison de la Piette, Montfoucault, effet de neige
Louveciennes in the Snow