October’s Cultured Calm Painting Pick is this glorious painting by Claude Monet. Autumn Effect at Argenteuil (1873).
The setting is Argenteuil, a suburb of Paris, where Monet lived from 1871 to 1878. This was a more affordable place to live than Paris but still easily accessible by rail. This view of the river Seine and the industrial landscape in the background was painted from his specially designed studio boat.
The painting captures the best of autumn. Clear blue skies, a mellow light, and an abundance of russet and gold leaves on the trees before they fall.
This painting is currently on display at The Courtauld Gallery in London. If you can’t get to London to see it, then it is available on the website via the virtual tour of room 6.
