Pollution, inspiration for works of art

Pollution can have its charm, that's what great artists claim, who managed to immortalize it in famous paintings. Claude Monet, one of the greatest masters of Impressionism, was captivated by London and its famous "fog", a combination of industrial pollution and humidity that created a mysterious and unique light. For the first time in history, his paintings depicting the British Parliament and the River Thames are being exhibited in London, as the French painter wanted 120 years ago. Monet visited London three times between 1899 and 1901, when the metropolis was the largest city in the world and a major industrial center, reports AFP. At that time, London was known for its dense "smog", a phenomenon resulting from industrial pollution, which the artist considered an endless source of inspiration for his works. "The effects of fog on the Thames" was the central theme of his visits, and thus a series of paintings dedicated to this iconic river was born.

• London, a source of inspiration

According to an article published by AFP, Monet, staying at the Savoy Hotel, had a spectacular view of Waterloo and Charing Cross bridges, which become the main themes of some works. To surprise the British Parliament, the artist sat on a terrace of Saint Thomas Hospital, located on the opposite bank of the river. In a 1900 letter to his daughter-in-law, Monet confessed that "every day London seems to me more and more beautiful to be painted." In another letter to his wife, the artist described how the changing weather and variations of light on the Thames fascinated him. In a meeting with an American journalist in 1901, Monet explained how captivated he was by the fog that "takes on all kinds of colors" - from black and brown to yellow and green. In his works, the sun barely breaks through this dense layer of fog, and the effect created on the canvas is one of mystery and depth.

• Pollution and the aesthetics of fog

According to the curator of the exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery in London, Karen Serres, winter was Monet's favorite season to capture these landscapes. At that time, "the fog mixed with the smoke of the factories and all the particles in the air," which created an atmosphere that the artist considered magical. "He liked best when the clouds parted a little and a ray of sunshine lit up the Thames," says Serres. Although Monet wanted to exhibit these works in London, his success meant that the paintings sold quickly, so the exhibition was held in Paris in 1904. About 40 paintings were then shown to the Parisian public. A collector who purchased one of the works wrote to the painter, expressing his gratitude: "you have given us the chance to better understand this magnificent landscape." In Monet's vision, London appeared as a magical place, shrouded in pollution and mystery. However, the curator of the exhibition emphasizes that, for the inhabitants of the city at that time, this pollution was far from being considered charming. The exhibition dedicated to his London works, "Monet in London: View of the Thames", opened last week at the Courtauld Gallery in London and will be available to the public until January 19. The 21 paintings on display come from private collections and museums in France, the United States and Ireland, bringing together works that present a unique perspective on London lost to time and smog.