“Red Boats, Argenteuil” is a work by Claude Monet created in 1875, a period that reflects the artist’s engagement with the Impressionist movement. This oil on canvas landscape painting measures 80.3 by 59.7 cm and depicts a maritime scene rich with color and activity. Currently, the artwork is housed at the Fogg Museum, which is part of the Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
The painting captures a vivid scene at Argenteuil—a bustling hub of boating activity during the latter half of the 19th century. Dominating the foreground are several red-hulled boats moored along the bank of the Seine. These boats, with their striking color, draw the eye and lend the artwork its name. They provide a lively contrast to the water’s myriad blues and the gentle tones of the sky. Dabs of white paint suggest the presence of bright light reflecting off surfaces and the play of sunlight on water, an effect that is characteristic of the Impressionist style.
Further back, other sailing boats with tall masts can be seen scattered across the river, their sails catching the light, adding to the sense of a gentle breeze in the air. Small figures appear in the boats and along the banks, giving a human scale to the scene and suggesting everyday life by the riverside.
The background features a hint of architecture amidst the greenery on the opposite bank, most likely the buildings of Argenteuil, which melt into the hazy atmosphere often portrayed by the Impressionists. The sky above the scene is airy and light, with clouds that are softly rendered in blues and whites. Monet’s use of swift brushstrokes and open composition helps to communicate the transitory effects of light and color, hallmarks of the Impressionist movement that sought to capture the fleeting moments of the natural world.