Hyde Park, London
circa 1871
Fleeing the Franco-Prussian War, a young Claude Monet found himself exiled in London in 1870, where he became utterly obsessed with the city's infamous fog and hazy light. In this early Impressionist gem, he captures a crisp day in Hyde Park, where Victorian figures in dark coats and long dresses stroll along winding paths beneath a vast, overcast sky. Notice the distant skyline bristling with industrial chimneys—a nod to the bustling, smoggy metropolis that would later inspire his famous Parliament series. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the moment Monet began trading strict realism for the fleeting, atmospheric effects that would define his entire career.