“Effect of Snow at Petit-Montrouge,” created by Édouard Manet in the year 1870, is an Impressionist oil painting on canvas measuring 61.6 x 50.4 cm. This cityscape, notable for its depiction of a snow-covered urban landscape, is housed in the National Museum Cardiff, Cardiff, UK.
The artwork portrays a somber and muted winter scene in Petit-Montrouge, a district in Paris. The canvas is filled with an overcast sky, imbued with varying shades of gray that set a melancholic tone. The snowy ground is rendered with broad, energetic brush strokes that blend whites and browns, suggesting the spontaneous and dynamic method characteristic of the Impressionist movement. The modest architectural forms, including indistinct buildings and a church, emerge softly from the landscape, giving a sense of depth and tranquility. Manet’s application of color and light skillfully captures the subdued yet textured atmosphere of a snow-laden cityscape, reflecting the tranquility and quietude of the moment.
